Kitchens, palates transform for Maggi-less days

People are trying out healthier options such as instant oats, none of it is as satisfying as Maggi.

A month since Maggi noodles were banned, those who loved these as evening snack, meal or anytime bite are on the lookout for healthier options. While many keenly wait for the lifting of the ban, others are switching to traditional and other dishes.

For many children in the city, Maggi had been a popular after-school snack at least once a week. Mothi Chandrika of Gopalapuram says she is switching to healthier options such as rice sevai and idiyappam. “I used to give noodles like a kind of treat to my children. But after reading about it in the news, I stopped buying even other brands,” she says.

S. Sharadha, home-maker, says she is trying out new recipes with oats, ragi and corn, and her children are taking a liking to them. “Such cereals have more nutrition in them. The market also has a lot of organic noodles made from similar grains,” she says.

Students in hostels, however, say that nothing quite fills the gap that Maggi has left behind. P. Thanuja, who had been having Maggi as her midnight snack for two years now, is now trying other noodle brands. “None of these brands, however, has the versatility of Maggi. I used to soak it in cold water, or cook it on the induction stove or even just eat it raw,” she says. While several of her friends are trying out healthier options such as instant oats, none of it is as satisfying as Maggi, she adds.

Food Safety Department sources say their officials inspected at least 250 provision stores and supermarkets in the city and are directing distributors to take back stocks of noodle brands that have not cleared tests.

R. Srinivasan, general manager, Wait Rose London Supermarket, says sale of branded noodles has stopped now. “Customers are not even interested in buying cup noodles as these have masala. They are instead going in for locally manufactured plain, egg and vegetable-flavoured noodles that do not have masala,” he says.

M. Shanmugam of Padma Stores in Anna Nagar says customers are not even buying branded pastas. “Very rarely, bachelors are opting for unbranded noodles. Sale of idiyappam and rice sevai has remained the same,” he adds.