There have been a number of food scares in India before the ban on Maggi noodles. These are some of the most high-profile examples:
Detergent in milk
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2012 said tests had revealed that most of the samples of milk it examined were adulterated. They were most commonly adulterated with water, which could pose a risk if it was contaminated, and in many cases with products including detergent and bleach. These were added to the milk to make it appear thicker and whiter. The authority last month asked states to test samples of milk for adulteration following the Maggi noodles case.
Pesticides in fizzy drinks
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola faced challenges in India in 2006 after the Centre for Science and Environment, an environmental group in New Delhi, alleged that pesticide levels found in their soft drink products were 24 times higher than was permitted under Indian safety standards. This led to Kerala completely banning the sale and manufacturing of the drinks in August that year. The ban was lifted the following month. Other states, including Gujarat, introduced a partial ban at the time, while the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party called for a national ban on the products. The rival companies joined forces on a campaign and responded with notices in the Indian press, defending their drinks. Sales were hit because of the report but the companies managed to recover, and India today is among the fastest-growing markets for both brands.
Worms in chocolate bars
Several incidents were reported of Dairy Milk chocolate bars produced by Cadbury India being infested with worms in the states of Maharashtra and Kerala in 2003. Sales dropped in the following weeks as the case received widespread media attention. In response, Cadbury recruited the Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as a brand ambassador and improved the products’ packaging. A television advertisement was made in which Bachchan told viewers that he had visited the chocolate maker’s factory and was confident in the quality of their products. Cadbury sales bounced back.
business@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
