Nestlé, FSSAI mend fences...

According to Narayanan, Nestlé is interested in engaging with and helping the FSSAI on diverse matters. “Nestlé can also help with its global expertise in areas of food science, which will help the FSSAI to take decisions while formulating regulations,” he said.

“Milestones are reached by companies at certain stages. For me, this (opening the institute with the FSSAI’s support) is a milestone, and it reflects Nestlé’s commitment,” Narayanan said.

The R&D centre, where the NFSI has been set up, has been Nestlé’s global hub for research on noodles and spices since March 2014. The FSSAI and the company are now looking to offer courses for food safety professionals associated with the former and state food and drug administrations.

After Maggi was banned on June 5, 2015, Nestlé not only lost more than ~1,000crore in sales and the erosion of its brand value, the proscription order had created a lot of premonition among consumers.