2-Minute Maggi hazard

Our childhood friend, instant Maggi noodles, is now on the verge of sudden extinction from India. The things about it which made it our best buddy are its tasty curls, easy to cook and easy to eat. Besides, its attractive price that is just 10 rupees for a plate. Sometimes it has really served as a life rescuer to the hostellers. And for kids and youngsters, it has become the best evening meal. People have even become addictive to it. Well, who will not like a tasty & healthy (as the manufacturers claims) diet at a cheaper price and that too of a well-known Nestle brand of the world. It would be a great idea if government also adopts this, isn’t it? They should supply Maggi to the poor people, relief camps, disaster stricken people to overcome the problem of hunger and deaths due to starvation, for it has ‘Taste bhi, Health bhi’ at much cheaper rates.

However this is contrary to what the FDA reports found in different sampling. Hence, the honesty of Maggi and its concern towards the health of its consumers has come under a big question mark.

But “All those glitters are not gold” and here the glitter coating is hiding something unsafe and hazardous. Let’s re-examine it, the first thing we get in the Maggi packet is its maida made curly noodles, and even after boiling the curls retain their shape. Though normally it shouldn’t happen, the curls should have lost its shape and noodles must get stick to one another in the boiling process. But it doesn’t happen as it is coated with paraffin wax.  The same wax  is used in the making of candles and as chemical preservatives for fruits. Our body system takes 4-5 days to excrete the wax after noodles intake. Due to this , satisfaction breeds and the person doesn’t feel the need of eating anything else after it, which can result in serious nutritional problems.  The cooking direction of Maggi says not to drain the water after boiling for 2 minutes – this is totally a wrong step. The water retains the wax and the maida is not properly cooked but only the tastemaker; that contains the MSG. Its molecular structure gets changed. This proves the presence of toxic. Yes! The tastemaker, the real essence of Maggi on which mouth starts watering!  But the Nestle has clearly specified on its Maggi packets that there is ‘no added MSG’ , nor any kind of wax. However this is contrary to what the FDA reports found in different sampling. Hence, the honesty of Maggi and its concern towards the health of its consumers has come under a big question mark.

The tests results have revealed surprisingly high level of lead i.e. 2.5 ppm (the normal level must be less than 0.01 ppm). There are no immediate symptoms of lead poisoning. If taken in small amounts most often, it gets accumulated in blood, bones and muscles. There is no way to tell until it’s too late. MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a taste enhancer. Na, salt of glutamic acid, can cause excessive retention and high build up of sodium in the body and increase hypertension risk. Large numbers of patients in the age group 18-24 years are ending up with pancreatitis due to the regular consumption of instant noodles.

If the frequency at which one consumes this is more than 3 times a week,  it is very hazardous. Don’t forget the taste of pure traditional snacks, much richer in nutrition and easy to make. Health must be your prime concern as “Healthy mind revives in a healthy body”.