'Much-loved' Maggi banned in many states in India; Ram Gopal Varma stands by maggi

Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 14:16 [IST]

Bengaluru, June 5: From taste-maker to news-breaker, humble Maggi, one of India's most loved food brands, that was loved by over millions of the people across the world, especially children, is facing a ban in many states in India.

Maggi's sales have dipped over a week, it has also affected many whose sole basis of earning lies on Maggi.

Many street food stalls only sell maggi and used to make their both ends meet.

States like Gujarat, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have banned Maggi for 15-30 days while other states have called for tests on the popular noodles after a batch in a small town in Uttar Pradesh allegedly contained higher-than-permissible lead.

Following public concern, a host of retailers ranging from neighbourhood house shops to Big Bazaar, Reliance and WalMart have withdrawn Maggi noodles from their shelves.

Following the outcry, Nepal and Singapore have suspended sales of Maggi noodles imported from India.

Here's how Twitteratti reacting to the ban on Maggi:

#Maggi If lead and MSG were detected in excess of label claim in US or Europe, the Company would have had to close down its operations.
— Ashok Khemka, IAS (@AshokKhemka_IAS) June 4, 2015

Clear proof dat Maggie damages brain cell... @TigerNaMo @ani30oct pic.twitter.com/LbMR3T89cB
— Ghuge Priyanka (@GhugePriyanka) June 5, 2015

Is there any correlation between eating Maggie & low IQ? Was Maggie Pappus fav food while growing up in Delhi
— SUPARI JOURNALIST (@girishs2) June 5, 2015

Breaking news:After ban on Maggie, 🍝90% girls on matrimony sites removed "cooking" as a hobby/expertise. Baby @KishwerM ab kyaa hoga?😂😂😂
— Suyyash Rai (@suyyashrai) June 5, 2015

Now Maggie PR is at work. Watch how politicians, officers, media make money! Sweet fruit of controversy! :)
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) June 5, 2015

Will Maggie work in black market????? I suppose not coz its not tabacco or alcohol.@rip in Maggie.Mummy sirf 2mnts.goodbye. dear Maggie.
— Irfan Mirza (@IrfanMirzabaig) June 5, 2015

A fun thing to do right now, is to go on Maggis Facebook page and read the comments. pic.twitter.com/MDUkoQnmTQ
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) June 5, 2015

Is some steet food more unsafe than Maggi?Yes!Do the vendors have big budgets and access to clean water?Do they claim its safe for kids?No!
— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) June 5, 2015

Anything dried for months and is mostly dough is not healthy for you. Pretty obvious, Maggi never was healthy. Lead isnt healthy either.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) June 5, 2015

& while we outrage about #Maggi &processed food, spare a thought for the freshly cooked highly contaminated street food bulk of India eats
— Gul Panag (@GulPanag) June 5, 2015

And here's what the biggest maggi lover has to say, and in such a cute way!:

With all the Maggi talk going around I ate more Maggi today than ever in my entire life
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

Ahhhhhh Maggi really tastes good..yummmm!
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

Every food material will either have something excess or lesser and so I cant understand this sudden attack on poor Maggi
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

I feel so sad for Maggi..its so cute and tasty and now this sudden invasion on it from all sides for it being so cute and tasty
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

Maggi should demand a check on our ultra clean fish markets and also our highly hygienic road side eateries before discriminating it
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

Not my heart but the taste of Maggi tells me that it will come out innocent from all these allegations like a knight in shining armour
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

As a true lover and believer of Maggi I decided to eat only Maggi till it is freed of all charges which am super sure it will be
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 3, 2015

Supposedly confirmedly dangerous cigarettes nd alcohol r allowed to sell with dumb warnings which no one cares and Maggi is banned..Superb!
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) June 4, 2015