食品恐慌过后雀巢在印度市场投放美极拉面

AS IT IS 2015-06-15 Nestle Pulls Maggi Noodles in India After Food Scare

The food manufacturer Nestle has removed a product from sale in India because of safety concerns. Tests showed Maggi noodles contained large amounts of the heavy metal, lead.

The first reports of a problem with the product came from a rural town in one of India’s poorest states, Uttar Pradesh. Soon after, the country's food safety agency declared Maggi noodles "unsafe” to eat.

The recall is one of India’s largest food actions. At least six states have banned the product.

The noodles cook in two minutes and are popular among children and students. Nestle sells about $240 million dollars worth of the noodles every year.

Nestle has rejected the test results. It says the product is safe. It has appealed the ban in court. It has asked for an examination of the government’s testing method.

But, India's food safety agency stands by its reports. It says it is now testing several similar foods from seven other manufacturers.

Ashwin Bhadri is head of Equinox Labs in Mumbai. He says the testing of packaged foods is needed.  He helps companies comply with food safety regulations.

“This is something that should be happening more regularly, especially for the bigger products which are circulated in the millions."

Several other countries, including Canada and Britain, also have ordered tests on Maggi noodles imported from India.

The food scare has led to mixed reactions. Some Maggi noodle lovers are not persuaded of any danger, like Shweta Andrews. She and her friends still enjoy the food.

"I don't think there is any problem in having Maggi. You have grown up having Maggi, and it does not matter really, you can still have it. In fact I was craving¹ (for) it today."

There are many reports of food contamination in India and a lack of cleanliness in food preparation. Experts say this has led consumers to put more trust in packaged foods made by big companies.

Amit Khurana heads the food safety team at the Center of Science and Environment in New Delhi. He says he hopes consumers and regulators both will study foods more closely now.

He says packaging rules need to be strengthened and consumers need to understand how to read food labels.

“Perhaps there needs to be much more stringent² standards of monitoring. So If I have to pick up one thing out of this -- yes, maybe packaged food is not as safe as it appears to be.”

India's food safety agency is just seven years old. Experts say the establishment and enforcement of regulations is poor.

India has experienced such food scares before. In 2006, a New Delhi environmental group raised questions about small amounts of pesticide³ in Coca Cola and Pepsi drinks. Both companies aggressively denied the claims.

In 2003, chocolate company Cadbury launched a big campaign to win back public trust after reports that worms were found in some chocolate products.

Nestle Chief Executive, Paul Bulcke says he is working with Indian officials to correct the problem. He says the company will win back the trust of consumers.

Words in This Story

comply – v. the act of eating or drinking something

regulation –adj. required by law or rule

contamination – v. to make impure⁴ by adding improper⁵ ingredients

label – n. a piece of paper, cloth, or similar material that is attached to something to identify or describe it

stringent – adj. very strict or severe

1 craving   

n.渴望,热望

参考例句：

• a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
• She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐，以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。

2 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

3 pesticide   

n.杀虫剂，农药

参考例句：

• The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields.这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

4 impure   

adj.不纯净的，不洁的；不道德的，下流的

参考例句：

• The air of a big city is often impure.大城市的空气往往是污浊的。
• Impure drinking water is a cause of disease.不洁的饮用水是引发疾病的一个原因。

5 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。