Maggi noodles production resumes at Bicholim plant

PANJIM: The two minute instant Maggi noodles could soon be back into kitchens of Goan homes as Nestle India Pvt Ltd has resumed manufacturing the product at its Maulinguem, Bicholim plant. 

Officials confirmed the development stating that the sale of the two minute noodles will commence only after fresh samples clear the crucial test at the central government’s three laboratories.

As per the Bombay High Court directives, samples of the fresh production will be sent for testing and once it clears the mandated tests, the product variants will be back on the shelves. 

Along with Goa, the company also resumed manufacture at its plants in Karnataka and Punjab. It is expected that the product will return to the market next month even as an official announcement is awaited.

The company is now working on to engage with the authorities and stakeholders to activate the process. “Re-starting the manufacturing process and bringing Maggi noodles to the market requires alignment with several stakeholders, including our suppliers, distributors and retailers among others, and we would not like to provide a specific date (as to when will Maggi products be on shelves),” Nestle India’s spokesperson had told Herald in an email interview last week.

At the time when the company withdrew Maggi noodles from the State in June, the Bicholim plant was manufacturing Maggi Masala Noodles, Maggi Veg Atta Noodles and Maggi Chicken Noodles.

The fate of over 500 contract workers, who were laid off after the ban is not yet known as the company is yet to review the manpower requirement.