Publications
Publications
- February 2016 (Revised June 2016)
- HBS Case Collection
The Maggi Noodle Safety Crisis in India (A)
By: Karthik Ramanna and Radhika Kak
Abstract
The local government in Delhi has ordered a ban on Nestlé's flagship product in India—Maggi Noodles—citing excessive lead content per government lab tests. Nestlé disputes the government tests, noting that internal and third-party tests show the product to be safe. There is considerable confusion in the media and among Nestlé's customers, and Maggi sales begin to plummet. Other local governments and India's federal food-safety regulator also consider bans. Nestlé must decide how to respond. Options include suing the regulators and withdrawing the product, which could impact up to 25% of Nestlé's India sales.
Keywords
Crisis Management; Leadership; Multinationals; Globalization; Regulation; Customer Relations; Business And Government; India; Europe; Switzerland
Citation
Ramanna, Karthik, and Radhika Kak. "The Maggi Noodle Safety Crisis in India (A)." Harvard Business School Case 116-013, February 2016. (Revised June 2016.)