Five facts you need to know about the Maggi row
First a disclaimer: I am not a fan of Maggi but If my son wants to eat it sometimes I let him. Read on to know my reasons.
The hue and cry over Maggi has gone over the top. Much more than the issue warrants. Now of course other instant noodle brands are getting dragged in the slugfest too… But that's not surprising at all. We tend to react exactly this chaotically to any/every ban in our country… The facts get lost in a maze of confusion and scaremongering reigns. Always!
Let's recall the reported facts: High lead concentration and traces of MSG were found in one batch of Maggi in Uttar Pradesh, so the regulatory authorities asked for a recall of that batch and a clamour for banning it began. As of now some states have already temporarily banned it, others are considering it, and the customer is left confused and wondering… As always!
Well, I am not a "ban" fan at all, and I think that this ban in particular is completely irrelevant. The broad food (safety and health) rules to follow remain the same… And we don't really need a regulatory authority to suddenly wake up one day and begin giving sundry bites to decide those for us. Plus I believe that we are simply missing the real "issue" in the whole drama. Lets tackle the points one by one.
Taste rules!
Let's talk MSG (Monosodium glutamate) first. MSG is a taste enhancer, which adds an umami taste to food (see my earlier post on umami foods for clarity) and is used quite liberally in Chinese food. And is possibly present equally liberally in a plate of that delicious roadside biryani too… While this additive is definitely not something that adds any health value to our diet, there is no clear indication yet from research that announces it harmful for the body (some people may be sensitive to it though). And the jury any ways is still out on whether it really was MSG found in Maggi or glutamate (a kind of amino acid found in many naturally occurring protein foods), as the company that makes Maggi is proclaiming.
The Lead lead
Lead in Maggi sounds dangerous. Right! So how does lead in the water we drink, the air we breathe, the soil our vegetables are grown in sounds… And why just lead, all these are contaminated with arsenic, mercury, pesticides… Multiple toxins are present in our environment and are contaminating the food we eat every day. Yes, they could even be present in the milk you drink and the ubiquitous spinach, lettuce and tomato you had for lunch every day. One study even reported that over 20 per cent of all ayurvedic medicines contained detectable heavy metals, and the paints around us (we take in their fumes all the time) are laden with lead too. So what's our escape? Just stop eating Maggi? Really!!!
Eat it right
Okay now let's talk about the issue that really matters but one that is surprisingly not getting any press. Instant noodles are meant to be had as part of a diversified balanced diet. Apparently the fine print on Maggi noodles ads even says so. This is a really sane suggestion. But how many of us have read it (damn the fine-fine print), and even if you did, do you follow it? A whole packet of Maggi (or any other noodles' brands) is "not a snack". It is too high in calories for that (100gm provides about 400 calories). If at all, it should be eaten as a main meal suitably buffed up nutritionally to make up for its lack of fibre and protein (by adding some cheese and/or egg and lots of vegetables). Then if it comes up to about 550 calories or so, it can still be justified as a main meal as in this form it provides better satiety, protein, and the refined flour (it is made of) and its steep salt content gets balanced to an extent by the fibre and potassium from the added vegetables. But that's not how most of us eat it - we just gulp it down mid meals, neat, which can contribute big time to excess weight gain - a far-far bigger problem than a little excess of either MSG or lead in my opinion. Rampant obesity in our children really worries me. And it should worry people in authority too.
What's the alternative?
Just blaming a particular food/brand for all our ills or trying to make a scapegoat of it (and with no other follow-up action on other pertinent issues) is not an answer. How does it help if college children in hostels stop eating instant noodles but switch to eating roadside deep fried snacks (which again are usually a clump of maida and where even the oil quality and hygiene are a suspect)? Broadly speaking we should target hygiene, high nutrient concentration, low refined foods, optimal calorie intake, balance between taste and convenience… And if we can fit in Maggi (or for that matter other processed /packaged foods) in our family's eating plan in a smart, balanced way… I don't think anyone really needs to ban anything. That said dependence on any one food for sustenance (however convenient) is not right and that lesson has to be taught at home level by parents to children. No escaping that. Education is actually the key.
Moderation pays
If it helps, in my household we buy a certain number of Maggi etc packets a month (we buy four single packs) and that's the quota we stick to come what may. No harm there, I tell you. After all moderation is the name of the game, with all foods, even with those the government is not clamouring to ban yet. And specially with those that we know are really bad for us like the colas, energy drinks etc.
But most importantly how I wish I could somehow fix up a quota for the polluted air laden with lead and God knows what else for my family too. That is what is slowly but surely killing us all, and not just a particular food packed in bright packing. Any ideas people at the regulatory authority?