Section 37
How Maggi came back after the 2015 ban
What should a food company do when a regulator bans its biggest product?
- case
- Turnaround
- years
- 2015-2016
- About 38,000 tonnes
- Noodles destroyed · 2015
- ₹420 crore
- Value of recalled goods (company estimate) · 2015
- 01
The situation
In June 2015 the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned Maggi instant noodles, alleging lead above permissible limits after state tests. The product was withdrawn from shops across India.
- 02
The decision
Nestle India withdrew the stock and destroyed about 38,000 tonnes of noodles; Business Today reported that the company valued the recalled goods at Rs 420 crore. At the same time it challenged the ban in court. On 13 August 2015 the Bombay High Court set aside the nationwide ban and ordered fresh tests at three laboratories.
- 03
The outcome
Nestle India reported that the court-mandated laboratory tests found lead within permissible limits, and it relaunched Maggi on 9 November 2015. FSSAI then appealed to the Supreme Court, objecting to how the fresh samples were chosen.