How has life of Maggi-lovers changed after FSSAI ban?

It was just two months ago that Maggi was banned and removed from the Indian markets. This took people by such surprise, a lot of them resorted to stocking it in bulk despite repeated warnings from the country's food regulator about its quality. 

Some said their love and loyalty for Maggi will never die.

While others quipped in defence of their beloved instant noodles, that even after eating Maggi almost all their life, they were still alive. 

After Nestle's star product went off the shelves in a jiffy, other instant noodle brands like Top Ramen, Foodles, etc, also came under the food safety regulator FSSAI's scanner, and were ordered to recall their product.

However, even two months since, the Maggi controversy has remained on the top, creating a havoc in the Indian market as well as among the Indian youth. 

Maggi noodles, the go-to food for late night study sessions and hostelites, has conjured up much disappointment and nostalgia among college kids. 

"I couldn't believe when I heard that the government is recalling Maggi from the markets. I immediately went to the nearest store and bought 10 packets of Maggi and stocked it," said a college student in Mumbai.

Even shop owners seemed to be disappointed by the news. "Post ban, many people came and asked for Maggi; I had to say no, and request them to buy some other brand, but they would refuse and walk away", said a retail shop owner. 

Rayman Dutta, a stylist living in Mumbai said she has had to resort to other options in the market after her "everyday post-work snack" was taken off the market. "There's little relief that Maggi masala cubes are still available in the market. I add that to these other noodles, but it's just not the same," she said.

The Maggi ban also hit a Mumbai restaurateur. Varun Saraogi, owner of Moodles that made several variety of "moodles" using Maggi as its base, said, "I was really disappointed with the news when it broke, in fact even the employees were not happy."

"We had to replace Maggi with hakka noodles, which, of course, doesn't taste like Maggi. There is a lot of difference in taste and texture; it is not the same as it used to be", he added.

The restaurant boasts of getting 70% youngsters, mainly those who stay in hostels. The owner also cited incidences where his customers have complained, saying that "Maggi mein maza aata tha, isme maza nahi aata". 

"Even the employees have to over work as they need to pre-cook the hakka noodles, and then make them according to the customers' orders," said Varun Saraogi.

Saraogi had to resort to introducing new dishes to the menu, including burgers, which was a departure from the restaurant's USP. 

"I had to do something to keep the business running", he said. He admitted that sales have fallen, and the food doesn't taste as good as it used to, when made with Maggi.

"The company should reduce the amount of lead and MSG and come back to Indian markets. Hoping government really thinks about it. It is mentally being missed by people", said Saraogi.

"I would really want Maggi to be back", he added.

Parents, on the other hand, privy to their children's disappointment, held mixed views. 

"The government should have taken this step long back. These days kids are addicted to Maggi", said a parent of a seven-year old. 

A 23-year-old IT employee admitted that his mother used to pull him up for having Maggi for breakfast. 

Currently, Nestle has recalled all the batches of Maggi in the market, and will have them destroyed; although, the company is hopeful of coming up with new batches soon. 

Life hasn't come to a standstill after the Maggi ban, but disappointment is still thick in the air, and nostalgia is easy to slip into, whenever the two-minute noodles are mentioned.