Nakumatt withdraws harmful Maggi noodles from shelves

Nakumatt Supermarket chain has withdrawn Nestle’s Maggi Noodles from its shelves.

The supermarket chain, which is the biggest in East Africa, has said that the noodles have been withdrawn from shelves in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan following reports that the noodles contain a harmful amount of lead.

Last month, Indian regulatory authorities said that the contents of Maggi noodles possess high levels of lead and ordered them off the shelves.

Nestle has, however, maintained that the noodles are safe for human consumption.

According to Cofek, the Kenya Bureu of Standards (KEBS) Director, Quality Assurance and Inspection Mr John Abongs issued a ‘verbal recall’ of the products.

Naivas and Tuskys supermarkets are also planning to voluntarily withdraw the product from the shelves, according to a statement on the Cofek website.