The Return of Maggi.
Nestle’s instant noodles “Maggi” has returned back to the stores after 5 months ban. Manufacturing commenced after the three laboratories certified by the National Accreditation Board for Test and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) declared on 4 November that the “newly manufactured” Maggi noodles were safe for consumption.While many feel relieved, there are few concerns to be noted in this Maggi Ban.
Nearly five months ago the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) Lucknow found a few samples of Maggi Noodles to have lead beyond permissible limits along with the presence of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). This led to many states banning the product followed by some more sampling and testing of Maggi Noodles samples across the nation. What followed was a nationwide ban on Maggi Noodles.
But it did not stop there. This made the food regulating authorities to have a full check on other fast foods and banning few. Sales of milk products, infant foods, chocolates and beverages declined approximately 9% year-on-year, Mint reported on 30 October. Most analysts expected sales of these other product categories to grow between 8% and 12% from year-ago levels. The Ban on Maggi had two trends. It created horror in moms who fed Maggi with affection to their children. Which mother would be simply be quiet having known that what they were feeding to their children had high amount of Lead and MSG which are harmful to their children. Another trend was protests by Students and few moms to take the ban back. This created a shock wave as few stated that Maggi eased the work time spent in kitchen and for students living in hostels, it seems that it was their stable food. Are people ready to sacrifice their health for comfort?
Meanwhile, people on Facebook extend their love to the returning Maggi
But Maggi Ban had created one other major fear. Are we eating food that are safe? Why did the Food regulation authorities didn’t find the increased levels of Lead during their initial tests. Or rather Do the food regulation authorities make regular checks ? Will they make regular checks on Maggi and other products ?
Amid severe ban scare, Maggi reintroduction was a success. Maggi has been re-launched in 100 towns through 300-odd distributors and will be rolled out in many more areas in the coming days. At present, Maggi noodles are being manufactured at three out of five locations. While manufacturing has begun in Nanjangud (Karnataka), Moga (Punjab) and Bicholim (Goa), Nestle India is still awaiting directions to commence manufacturing in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. One fear still sustains in my mind. Is Maggi actually safe ?
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Written by SGA Thomas
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