Still missing Maggi, Meerut turns to tweaked menu at stalls

MEERUT: Personify the Maggi packets kept at the stores and chances are they will start singing Aise na dekho, jaise pehle kabhi dekha hi nahi dedicating it to the thousands of college students, who once hailed the instant noodle as a savior against a demon called ‘midnight hunger pang’. The love affair of PG dwellers, college-goers and young professionals with Maggi is on the rocks owing to the recent controversy around the presence of lead and excessive amount of substances like monosodium glutamate in the product.
With several states either banning Maggi or ordering a test of the samples, Maggi packets have been taken off the shelves. Also, most city residents are staying away from the brand, which was once the staple evening food in every household and the outright favourite of hostel inmates. Shopkeepers say that the demand for the product has gone down significantly in the city. Vaibhav Goel, the distributor of Nestle products in Meerut, says, “There has been a 50% drop in the demand for Maggi noodles in the city overall because the consumers are not buying them and the shopkeepers have stopped asking for fresh supplies.”
As Maggi continues to boil in its own soup, vendors say that they have turned to other noodle brands and added new dishes to their menu for their customers, albeit unsuccessfully.
90% drop in sales at Maggi points
Maggi joints around college campuses in Meerut say that ever since the controversy erupted, their sales have drastically fallen. Vasu Dhawan, owner of the Maggi point near Meerut College, says, “Till a week ago, the demand was such that we used to sell over 35-40 packets a day. But ever since the controversy began, the business has seen a huge slump. We are lucky if we sell even two-three plates of Maggi these days. The students who used to throng the place for Maggi and chai are now staying away. Usually, in the evenings, our place was thronged by Maggi lovers but now you will hardly see anybody asking for Maggi.”
Sonu, who sells Maggi on Boundary Road, says, “We sell a plate of simple masala Maggi here for 20 bucks, which is very popular among students of coaching classes nearby. However, since last week, the sale is down by at least 90% even though the Uttar Pradesh government hasn’t banned Maggi. We can just hope that the product is cleared soon so that our business can resume.”
Youngsters turn to pakode, momos in the absence of Maggi
In the absence of their favourite snack, students are turning to alternatives like pakode or momos. Deepak, owner of a fast-food joint on PL Sharma Road, says, “The demand of Maggi has come down significantly, particularly among youngsters, who used to be the chief consumers of this snack. Nowadays, they come in for just soft drinks and the occasional momos or a burger. Nobody asks for a plate of Maggi anymore.”
Many street vendors say that fearing a ban and looking at the decreased demand, they have already stopped stocking Maggi and are offering customers other alternatives. Amzad, owner of a Maggi point near Pallavpuram, says, “The day that Maggi was banned in Delhi, we stopped keeping the brand with us. We now offer other things to the customers including other brands of instant noodles and fast-food items like rolls, etc. Most of the youngsters who earlier binged on Maggi now prefer pakode with some tea.”
Gaurav, a student of Meerut College, says, “With most of the states banning Maggi for containing hazardous substances, I think it is best to avoid it for the time being. There is no point risking your health over food. For now, I have shifted my loyalties to momos for my choice of an evening snack.”
Few takers for other brands of instant noodles
Owners of Maggi points are trying to lure customers with other brands of instant noodles but with little success. Naresh, who runs a fast food stall in Shastri Nagar, says, “The only popular noodle brand among youngsters apart from Maggi is Wai Wai but even the sales for that have dipped in the last week. Our entire livelihood depends on Maggi but we cannot just sit back and watch so we have made some alterations to the menu for the time being. We are offering the same dishes with Top Ramen, which has had limited success. In addition, we are also starting macaroni, preparing which is a little more time consuming but it is generally well-liked.”
Vasu Dhawan says, “We have stocked other brand of instant noodles so that we have something to offer to the students but they aren’t finding many takers. Students usually say that they have developed a taste for Maggi and don’t want any substitutes. Unko ya toh Maggi chahiye ya kuch bhi nahi.”