Unilever has reportedly recalled its range of Knorr Chinese-style instant noodles in India because the company apparently failed to secure approval to sell the product in the market.

According to the Financial Express, the Knorr noodles are not on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India list of approved products. The company is believed to have pulled the products pending regulatory approval. No food safety issues were cited.

The FSSAI stepped up its scrutiny of the dried noodle sector after routine testing detected elevated levels of lead and MSG in Nestle's Maggi noodles. Nestle has repeatedly insisted that its noodles are safe and the group commissioned independent tests that found lead levels were within regulatory limits.

Unilever did not respond to requests for comment at time of press.