The Young Chronicle: For Grade 3 June 6th, 2015 | Page 2

Maggi and the Ban
You would have noticed many states like UP, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and Maharashtra have
banned our favourite snack, Maggi instant noodles
because of high Lead content and Monosodium
Glutamate (MSG). While we will get to the implications of high volumes of these substances, it is
important to understand why the product has been
banned in some states and not the others, and
how and why this increase in lead and MSG was
found.
High Lead content and MSG has been particularly found in the tastemaker sachet within the noodles pack.
Since the tastemaker is what lends the flavour to the noodles, the noodles are nothing without it.
Many people have been debating that the ban doesn’t make sense in a country where basic necessities like
water and vegetables are fraught with lead and pesticides. Many also claim that it could be because of the
water, that the product contains high levels of lead. Well, here’s our perspective:
1)

Does water have MSG too? As far as we know, MSG or Aginimoto is a man made substance and not a naturally found mineral.

2)

Is it not imperative for large conglomerates to adequately treat the water before using it?

3)

Is it right to misappropriate the levels of contaminating pollutants, and still let them out in the market?

4)

Isn’t it foolish to believe that one will never get caught?

Not much can be done with water and the vegetable produce, since it is a largely unorganised market. However, since Maggi is sold through regulated channels it can easily be monitored, regulated, and withdrawn
from the market; and why not so, when it is a completely non-essential food item.

That said, it is important that the government also starts working towards making the regular necessities like
water and vegetables, pollution free.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF LEAD POISONING AND HIGH MSG CONTENT
Lead Poisoning consequences: Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to the heart,
bones, intestines, kidneys, the reproductive and nervous systems. It interferes with the development of the
nervous system and is therefore particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behaviour disorders. Symptoms include abdominal pain, confusion, headache, anaemia, irritability, and in severe
cases seizures, coma, and death.

MSG on the other hand, is a taste enhancer and can cause a Headache., Sweating, Facial pains, Numbness,
tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas, Rapid, fluttering heartbeat, Chest pain, and discomfort.