he company originally started in Switzerland in 1885, when Julius Maggi took over his

father's mill. He quickly became a pioneer of industrial food production, aiming to improve
the nutritional intake of worker families. Maggi was the first to bring proteinrich legume meals to the market, and followed up with a ready-made soup based on legume
meals in 1886. In 1897, Julius Maggi founded the company Maggi GmbH in
the Singen, Germany where it is still based today.
In 1947, following several changes in ownership and corporate structure, Maggi's holding
company merged with the Nestl company to form Nestl-Alimentana S.A., currently known
in its francophone homebase as Nestl S.A.[2]

Products[edit]

Maggi Seasoning sauce (replica of a historic bottle)

A bottle of Maggi sauce in 2006

Bouillon cubes

Maggi masala noodles

Cube[edit]
The bouillon cube or "Maggi cube" is a meat substitute product that was introduced in 1908.
Because chicken and beef broths are so common in the cuisines of many different countries,
the company's products have a large worldwide market.
In West Africa and parts of the Middle East, Maggi cubes are used as part of the local
cuisine. In Haiti and throughout Latin America, Maggi products, especially bouillon cubes,
are widely sold with some repackaging to reflect local terminology.[3] In the German, Dutch,
and Danish languages, lovage has come to be known as "Maggi herb" (Ger.Maggikraut,
Du. maggikruid or maggiplant, Da. maggiurt), because it tastes similar to Maggi sauce,
although lovage is not present in the sauce.

Seasoning sauce[edit]
In China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand,
the Philippines, Singapore, Pakistan, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Germanspeaking countries, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland and France,
"Maggi" is still synonymous with Maggi-Wrze (Maggi seasoning sauce), a dark, soy saucetype hydrolysed vegetable protein-based condiment sauce. In Spain and Mexico, it is sold
under the name Jugo Maggi. [4]

Noodles[edit]
Maggi instant noodles are popular in India and Malaysia. Nestle has 39% market share in
Malaysia, where "Maggi" is synonymous with instant noodles,[5] and 90% market share in
India.[6] In Malaysia, fried noodles made from Maggi noodles are called Maggi goreng.
In June 2015, tests in India found high amounts of lead and monosodium glutamate in Maggi
noodles. The FSSAI ordered a national recall for all 9 variants of Maggi Instant Noodles and
Oats Masala Noodles.[7][8]
In India, Maggi noodles carry a green dot, meaning they are specifically formulated to serve
vegetarians.[9] This special formulation is not available in other countries, unless imported
from India.

Dehydrated soup[edit]
Like other dehydrated soup mixes, Maggi Onion Soup mix is often combined with reduced
cream to create a French onion dip.[10]

Maggi Noodles safety concerns in India[edit]

Roadside Maggi and chai stall in Uttarakhand, India

In May 2015, Food Safety Regulators from Barabanki, a district of Uttar Pradesh, India
reported that samples of Maggi 2 Minute Noodles had unexpectedly high levels
of monosodium glutamate, as well as up to 17 times the permissible limit of lead.[11][12][13][14]
[15]
On June 3, 2015, theNew Delhi Government banned the sale of Maggi in New Delhi
stores for 15 days due to these findings.[16] On June 4, the Gujarat FDA banned the noodles
for 30 days after 27 out of 39 samples were detected with objectionable levels of metallic
lead, among other things.[17] Assam had banned sale, distribution, and storage of Maggi's

"extra delicious chicken noodles" variety for 30 days since June 4, 2015 after tests carried
out at the state public health laboratory concluded the particular variety to contain
added monosodium glutamate and excessively high lead content.[18]Some of India's biggest
retailers like Future Group, which includes Big Bazaar, Easyday, and Nilgiris have imposed a
nationwide ban on Maggi.[19]In addition, multiple state authorities in India have found an
unacceptable amount of lead which has led to bans in more than 5 other states.[20][21]
On June 4, 2015 the government of Tamil Nadu banned Maggi foods due to an
unacceptable amount of lead and other components.[22]
On June 5 the Andhra Pradesh Government also banned Maggi foods.[23]
During a press meet on June 26, 2015, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare
of Karnataka, U. T. Khader, stated that Maggi foods would not be banned. [24]
On June 5, 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ordered a recall
of all nine approved variants of Maggi instant noodles and oats masala noodles, suggesting
that they unsafe and hazardous for human consumption.[25] On the same day, the Food
Standards Agency of the United Kingdom launched an investigation into the level of lead in
Maggi noodles.[26] On June 6, 2015, the Central Government of India banned nationwide sale
of Maggi noodles for an indefinite period.[27] Nepal indefinitely banned Maggi over concerns
about lead levels in the product.[28] Maggi noodles have been withdrawn in five African
nations: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan by a super-market chain after
a complaint by the Consumer Federation of Kenya.[29]
Testing controversies:

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Testing found some MSG in

Maggi noodles. The packet stated "No added MSG";
however, MSG naturally occurs in hydrolyzed groundnut
protein, onion powder and wheat flour. Maggi offered to
remove the words "No added MSG" from the package to
overcome the objection.[30]

Lead: Maggi noodles include flavoring packets named

"Tastemaker" which is intended to dissolve in water during
cooking. Maggi insisted that testing should be done on the
product as it is eaten; however, the FSSAI insisted that the
powder itself should be tested. On June 5, the FSSAI said
that the prescribed standards of 2.5 parts per million would
have to apply to all components of the product. Out of the 13
samples tested by Delhi authorities, 10 of them had lead
content exceeding this limit. The packets that initiated the
investigation from Uttar Pradesh had 17.2 ppm of lead.
[31]
Nestl also questioned the reliability of the labs used.
Results from testing outside of India (Singapore,[32] USA [33])
reported that that Maggi noodles are safe. In the later
Bombay High Court judgment, the court agreed that the test
results by earlier labs were unreliable. The court mandated
testing to be done at three specific laboratories (Punjab,
Hyderabad and Jaipur) where Maggi was found safe.[34] The
lead may have been naturally occurring in plants and soil[35] or
from Indian spices, although within acceptable limits.[36]

The Bombay High Court allowed the export of Maggi while the ban in India remained.[37]
FIRs against Bollywood Maggi Brand Ambassadors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, &
Preity Zinta were lodged by Sudhir Kumar Ojha, a lawyer, at Muzaffarpur district court,

asking the authorities to arrest them if required. He complained that he fell sick after eating
Maggi which he had purchased from a shop at Lenin Chowk on May 30.[38]
Maggi has always insisted that their noodles are safe.[39] Maggi recalled stock worth nearly
Rs 320 crore from the shelves and paid 20 crores to a cement factory to burn the product. In
addition, Corporate Affairs Ministry imposed a Rs 640 crore fine on Nestle India for the
presence of MSG and lead beyond the permissible limit[40]
In August, tests performed by the US health regulator FDA showed no dangerous lead levels
in the products.[33] On 13 August 2015, the nationwide ban was struck down by the Bombay
high court. The court stated that proper procedure was not followed in issuing the ban and
called into question the test results, as the samples were not tested at authorized
laboratories accredited to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories (NABL).[41]
Maggi came back to the shelves in India in November 2015.[42][43] Nestle has also been
running a campaign to win back trust of members of the Indian community.[44] Nestle in India
resumed production of Maggi in all five plants,that is Nanjangud (Karnataka), Moga (Punjab)
Bicholim (Goa) and Tahliwal and Pantnagar in Himachal Pradesh, on 30 November 2015.[45]

FSSAI Sting Operation[edit]

The India Today Television team conducted a sting operation in which they approached
FSSAI officials pretending to have a food product with high lead levels in October 2015. One
of them agreed to pass the samples without conducting any tests. He told the team that
"When you make money by selling your product, just pay me Rs 20,000 on a yearly basis".
[46]
He revealed that milk samples from one of India's best known companies had been
dismissed by deliberately adulterating it, because company did not agree to bribe the
inspectors.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan reacting to the operation said that
"Standard products are being labelled as sub-standard and faulty products are being passed
by such corrupt officials. This is a big crime and I demand strongest possible action against
all those found guilty," and promised to take serious action, although FSSAI is not
administered by his ministry.[47] Commenting on the reports, Union Health Ministry stated that
FSSAI has clarified that the officials who have figured in the sting operation are not working
in FSSAI but are employees of the UP state government.[48]

Criticism[edit]
Nestl has faced criticism of its advertising not adhering to marketing regulations in
developed countries, and making misleading claims in developing countries. Also, in October
2008 Nestl mistakenly aired a commercial meant for Bangladeshi television on British TV.
The advert made false claims that the noodles would "help to build strong muscles, bone,
and hair". The British Advertising Standards Authority said that the advert did not abide by
the new EU consumer protection legislation, by which advertisers have to provide proof of
health claims.[49]

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ Italian pronunciation: [maddi]; Swizz
German: [madi].
1. Jump
up^ "http://www.nestle.com/brands/allbrands/maggi_culinary".
www.nestle.com. Retrieved2016-02-03. External link in |
title= (help)

2. Jump up^ "FOOD HISTORY: History of Maggi brand of

Nestl". www.world-foodhistory.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
3. Jump up^ Albala, Ken (2011). Food Cultures of the World
Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood.
p. 166. ISBN 9780313376276. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
4. Jump up^ "Seasoning Sauce | Maggi | Brands & Offers |
Nestl Recipes". ElMejorNido.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
5. Jump up^ "Noodles in Malaysia". Euromonitor.com.
Retrieved 2016-01-16.
6. Jump up^ "Noodles in India". Euromonitor.com.
Retrieved 2016-01-17.
7. Jump up^ "FSSAI orders recall of all nine variants of Maggi
noodles from India". Firstpost. 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2016-0116.
8. Jump up^ "FSSAI Asked Nestle India to Withdraw and Recall
Maggi Instant Noodles". 12 June 2016.
9. Jump up^ "Maggi controversy: It's a wake-up call for Indian
consumers | columns". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2016-0116.
10. Jump up^ "Nestl Choose Wellness". TastyRecipes.co.nz.
2014-03-13. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
11. Jump
up^ http://rajasthanpatrika.patrika.com/story/business/maggicontroversy-nestle-india-may-be-in-loss-again-1276240.html
12. Jump up^ "Doubts over MSG and Lead Content in Maggi
Instant Noodles | Merofact Awareness Blog".
Merofact.blogspot.in. 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
13. Jump up^ "Beware! Eating 2 -Minute Maggi Noodles can ruin
your Nervous System". news.biharprabha.com. 18 May 2015.
Retrieved 18 May 2015.
14. Jump up^ "Maggi Noodles Packets Recalled Across Uttar
Pradesh, Say Food Inspectors: Report".NDTV (New Delhi,
India). 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
15. Jump up^ Sushmi Dey (16 May 2015). "Maggi under
regulatory scanner for lead, MSG beyond permissible
limit". The Times of India (New Delhi, India). Retrieved 20
May 2015.
16. Jump up^ "Delhi govt bans sales of Maggi from its stores:
Report". Times of India (New Delhi, India). 3 June 2015.
Retrieved 3 June 2015.

17. Jump up^ IANS (4 June 2015). "Gujarat bans Maggi noodles
for 30 days". The Times of India((The Times Group)).
Retrieved 4 June 2015.
18. Jump up^ "Timesofindia.indiatimes.com is temporarily
unavailable". indiatimes.com.
19. Jump up^ "Future Group bans Maggi too: The two-minute
death of a India's favourite noodle brand". FirstPost. 3 June
2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
20. Jump up^ "North to south: 5 states ban two-minute Maggi
noodles in a day | india". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2016-0116.
21. Jump up^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/maggi-noodles-faillucknow-lab-test/1/559802.html
22. Jump up^ The author has posted comments on this article
(2015-06-05). "Centre may ban Maggi as other brands fail test
in TN - The Times of India". M.timesofindia.com.
Retrieved2016-01-16.
23. Jump up^ "Andhra Pradesh bans maggi, Telangana awaits
report". Deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
24. Jump up^ News Karnataka (2015-06-27). "Maggi will not be
banned in Karnataka". Newskarnataka.com. Retrieved 201601-16.
25. Jump up^ "FSSAI Order to Nestle India" (PDF). FSSAI, India. 5
June 2015.
26. Jump up^ "UK launches Maggi tests for lead content - The
Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 2015-06-05.
Retrieved 2016-01-16.
27. Jump up^ http://www.patrika.com/news/miscellenousindia/supreme-court-denies-to-give-clean-chit-to-maggieorders-to-re-test-1159819/
28. Jump up^ "Nepal bans import, sale of Maggi noodles | world".
Hindustan Times. Retrieved2016-01-16.
29. Jump up^ "Maggi noodles withdrawn in East African
supermarket - BBC News". Bbc.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
30. Jump up^ "We Will Remove No MSG from the Maggi Noodles
Label: Nestles Global CEO - NDTV Food". Food.ndtv.com.
2015-06-06. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
31. Jump up^ Rohan Venkataramakrishnan. "Nestl's defence: It
is only real (lead-free) Maggi when the noodles and masala are
boiled in water". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2016-01-16.

32. Jump up^ Share on Twitter (2015-06-09). "Singapore resumes

sale of India-made Maggi noodles - Times of India".
Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
33. ^ Jump up to:a b Share on Twitter (2015-08-13). "US health
regulator says lead in Maggi within acceptable levels - Times
of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
34. Jump up^ "Maggi clears Bombay HC mandated lab tests:
Nestle India". The Indian Express. 2015-10-17.
Retrieved 2016-01-16.
35. Jump
up^ http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10643387309
381602
36. Jump up^ Park, Alice (2010-03-15). "Study: Indian Spices,
Powders Linked with Lead Poisoning - TIME".
Content.time.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
37. Jump up^ Maulik Vyas, ET Bureau Jul 1, 2015, 03.59AM
IST. "Bombay HC allows Nestle to export Maggi though ban
continues in India - timesofindia-economictimes".
Economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
38. Jump up^ "Maggi case: Bollywood actors face FIR". The
Hindu. 2015-06-03. Retrieved2016-01-16.
39. Jump up^ "What testing methodology does Nestl use? |
MAGGI Noodles - Nestl India | Nestl India". Nestle.in. 201601-01. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
40. Jump up^ Ruchika Shah (2015-10-30). "How much did Maggi
ban cost Nestle India? | Latest News & Updates at Daily News
& Analysis". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
41. Jump up^ Share on Twitter. "Relief for Nestle, Bombay HC
sets aside food regulator's ban on Maggi - Times of India".
Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
42. Jump up^ Bhusan, Ratna and Malviya, Sagar (17 October
2015)http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/consproducts/food/maggi-clears-all-tests-nestle-india-to-restartproduction-within-2-3-weeks/articleshow/49423524.cms
43. Jump up^ "Maggi noodles India ban: Celebrations as Nestle
returns to shelves". News.com.au. 2015-11-10.
Retrieved 2016-01-16.
44. Jump up^ Digital Defynd. "Nestle tries to win back customer
trust by evoking a century-old relationship". Digitaldefynd.com.
Retrieved 2016-01-16.
45. Jump up^ "Nestle resumes Maggi noodles production at all
plants in India : The Hindu - Mobile edition". M.thehindu.com.
2015-11-30. Retrieved 2016-01-16.

46. Jump up^ "Sting exposes FSSAI officials giving nod to unsafe
products for bribe : Mail Today, News - India Today".
Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
47. Jump up^ dna Web Team (2015-10-20). "Maggi ban: For one
lakh rupees, FSSAI officials willing to fail your competitor's
product: Reports | Latest News & Updates at Daily News &
Analysis". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
48. Jump up^ "The First Mail |
Stingcentre+asks+up+govt+to+take+action+against+guilty+offi
cials". Thefirstmail.in. 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
49. Jump up^ "Nestle criticised for child health claims - Business
News, Business - The Independent". Web.archive.org.
Retrieved 2016-01-17.

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to Maggi.

Official website

Maggi Centroamrica
[show]

Nestl
[show]

Noodles
Categories:

Cham, Switzerland
Culinary Heritage of Switzerland
Instant noodle brands
Haitian cuisine
Malaysian cuisine
Nestl brands
Swiss brands
Umami enhancers

Navigation menu

Not logged in

Talk

Contributions

Create account

Log in

Article
Talk

Read
Edit
View history
Go

Main page

Contents

Featured content

Current events

Random article

Donate to Wikipedia

Wikipedia store
Interaction

Help

About Wikipedia

Community portal

Recent changes

Contact page
Tools

What links here

Related changes

Upload file

Special pages

Permanent link

Page information

Wikidata item

Cite this page

Print/export

Create a book

Download as PDF

Printable version
Languages

()

Catal

etina

Deutsch

Espaol

Franais

Frysk

Bahasa Indonesia

Latvieu
Nederlands

Polski
Portugus

Edit links

This page was last modified on 7 February 2016, at 14:03.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;

additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of
Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.