JOIN USMajor retail chains in the City, including Big Bazaar and Nilgiris, have stopped the sale of Maggi noodles, even as the State government awaits laboratory reports on the excessive content of lead in the popular snack.
When Deccan Herald checked with some outlets in the City, their staff said Maggi noodles had been taken off the shelves. “The existing stock is also being sent back. We are stopping the sale of Maggi noodles,” said a staffer at a Big Bazar outlet. The staff at a Nilgiris supermarket said the product would be banned in all their chain of stores.
However, for consumers who are still keen on including Maggi as part of their supplies, smaller stores and some of the other supermarket chains continue to sell the product.
Employees at a Reliance Fresh supermarket said they had not stopped the sale of Maggi noodles yet. “We will wait for the government’s decision on the issue. Until then, we will supply it,” said an employee.
Small retail stores are yet to feel the pinch. For as long as they continue to supply it, there seems to be no dearth of demand. Puttiah Shetty, owner of a provision store in Rajajinagar, said that on an average, he sold about 15 packs of Maggi every day and that the recent controversy had not affected its sales. “While a handful prefer other brands of noodles over Maggi, a majority of them continue to buy the product,” he said.
On campus College campuses are perhaps the largest consumers of Maggi. Some of the popular colleges in the City are awaiting the government’s decision before seeking a ban on the product.
Shrishti Singh, president, Students Bar Association, National Law School, said even though some of the students had started restraining themselves from eating Maggi, the student body had not sought a ban.
At Mount Carmel College, the student union is likely to conduct a poll in this regard as soon as the college reopens on June 8. “My personal opinion is that it should be banned. However, on campus, people would have different views. We will take a decision after taking everyone’s opinion into consideration,” said Namrata Chandrashekar, president of the students’ union, Mount Carmel College.