As the dust around Maggi settles down a month-and-a-half after the Central Government banned it, a lot of people have found substitutes to the popular brand of the instant-noodles.
In early June, the FSSAI had banned Nestle’s Maggi for excessive lead content and mislabelling. Since then, Maggi has gone missing from the markets, leaving the Maggi lovers searching for other options.
Maggi eaters, especially youngsters, believe that nothing can substitute Maggi but other brands of noodles are consumable. “I have been eating Maggi for years now. After the ban I miss Maggi because there can be nothing like it,” says Yashika Arora, a college student.
She is not the only one who misses Maggi. Others who have long consumed these noodles believed that it was an essential part of their diet. “We loved it. I think the whole country loved Maggi. We used to eat it almost everyday. I hope the ban is lifted as soon as possible and we again get Maggi,” says Vaibhav Kotiyal, another student.
Even after the ban, noodles have not lost popularity. Though FSSAI has put other brands of noodles under scrutiny people don’t mind including it in their diet. “We can’t stop eating noodles. If not Maggi, which was the best for mid-night hunger, we go for some other brands,” says Himanshu who stays in a hostel.
Even the dietitians agreed that it was very difficult to change eating habits but said it was essential to stop eating instant noodles regularly. “It is very difficult to stop people from eating noodles if they are habituated to it. They will eat what they want to, but it is very harmful,” says Dr Richa Kukreti, a dietitian.
“Eating instant noodles makes the immune system weak; it will also make us either overweight or underweight. Another major problem is that the person consuming noodles becomes addicted to it,” she added.
The popularity of noodles hasn’t declined after the lead episode. In fact, a lot of them believe that it is the easiest and cheapest food they can get but not anymore.
“Instant noodles are easily available and are cheap. It doesn’t take time to prepare them. That is the best part, they are instant,” says Shivani, a student from Rajasthan who stays on rent in Dehradun.
But is there no substitute to instant noodlesIJ Dr Kukreti doesn’t agree. “Go for fruits and salads. They are also available. You can go for oats or poha (flattened rice flakes). They are also instant,” she says.
