Right from kiosks to general stores and even shops in malls have preferred to bear the losses but not at the cost of people’s health. The State-owned Sahakari Bhandar (co-operative stores) were the first to take it off the shelves after laboratory tests showed the 2-minutes noodles contained lead at levels far higher than the legal maximum.
“We did incur heavy loss since the stocks were purchased much before the controversy. But losses don’t matter to us provided we ensure what we sell is not unsafe for human consumption,” Panjim-based store owner Joey D’Mello told Herald.
Sahakari Bhandar at Panjim market too stopped selling Maggi noodles from the very day India’s food safety regulator ordered a recall of the snack calling it unsafe and hazardous for human consumption.
“Our workers have already dumped the stock in the godown. It will be disposed of… any customer requesting for even a small packet, we deny selling it,” a salesgirl at the Bhandar said.
The alert shopkeepers have ensured that precautionary measure despite four out of six samples collected by State Food and Drugs Administration from Nestlé’s local manufacturing factory did find ingredients above harmful levels. While two reports are pending, the State administration has now decided to re-test the samples by sending it to Mysore laboratory.
Another shop-owner identified as Floyd Periera echoed similar views claiming he stopped selling Maggi noodles from the day TV news channel ran continuous reports about the harmful effects of consuming the instant food.
The Upkar stores in the capital, is all set to return the stock even though it does not get a refund for the purchases done earlier. Yet another shop owner Anoj Kuttichi stated that he has not only stopped selling Maggi noodles but also creating awareness among his customers, particularly youth to avoid eating the junk. He too has decided to return the stock to the company.
Herald also spoke to some Maggi noodles fans whether they favour the decision, to which many replied in the positive for the sake of health.
“We knew that Maggi noodles are not good for health but continued eating because they were no restrictions as such. There would be ample number of social media messages against consuming this but what we would do is boil it to get rid of the wax, strain and cook. Now with the ban, we have controlled our hunger for Maggi noodles,” college-going student Priyanka Narvekar said.
Recently passed out Rohan Apte has seconded the opinion supporting the decision.
However, there are still some who demand that other instant noodles should also undergo similar test. “Why only Maggi noodles and not other brand’s selling instant noodles? Let all go through the check. This will make it crystal clear whether all belong to the same clan,” Melissa Pereira said.
