Food regulator faces Ramdev's noodle challenge

The newspaper also reported that when Bahuguna was asked about the license number that was displayed on the packets he said that there is no way a license can be given to a product that has not been approved, and he is unaware how the license was procured.

Patanjali Atta Noodles, a FMCG product launched by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Nov 16, doesn't have the requisite approval of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), according to official sources.

"We have followed all rules and guidelines by the FSSAI". The food regulator is now looking to bring in a regulation following due process. With all the information coming in will Ramdev's noodles make an early exit thus leading to an easy re-entry of Maggi in markets? The authority's chairman Ashish Bahuguna has also been quoted as saying that product approval for pasta can not apply to noodles.

India's apex food regulator today indicated that Patanjali Ayurved's instant wheat flour noodles did not have its mandatory approval, but the company has denied the claim, releasing documents from the regulator itself. That approval was not taken.

Patanjali noodles insists its product falls under the category of pasta, for which it has the correct licence.

Summary: Just days after launching, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Noodles have moved into troubled waters.

Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Patanjali Food and Herbal Park has the FSSAI license to manufacture a range of products that does not include noodles.

The launch comes in the wake of Maggi's announcement that it had cleared legal hurdles and would be available in stores across the country.

This referred to a Bombay High court order from 2014, upheld by the Supreme Court in August this year, quashing a product advisory on food safety norms issued by the FSSAI, in May 2013, which required packaged food, beverages, health drink and supplement makers to disclose any ingredient or formulation change to the regulatory body. A few samples were also found to contain monosodium glutamate despite claims of "No added MSG" on the label.