Maggi noodles is a brand of instant noodles manufactured by Nestlé. The brand is popular in Australia, India, South Africa, Brazil, Nepal, New Zealand, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Fiji and the Philippines. In several countries, it is also known as "maggi mee" (mee is Indonesian/Malay/Hokkien for noodles). Maggi noodles are part of the Maggi family, a Nestlé brand of instant soups, stocks, and noodles. In Malaysia, there are fried noodles made from maggi noodles known as Maggi goreng. Maggi noodles recently introduced a new variety of its noodles, to cater for the health conscious like 'No MSG', 'Less Salt', and 'No Trans fat'. A wholewheat flour based noodle variation marketed by the name "Vegetable Atta Noodles" has been introduced in India (Atta flour is used in preparing most forms of wheat based breads in India) and caters to health conscious buyers wary of the refined flour used in the regular Maggi noodles. This move helps the brand in India as suburban mothers, who feed the noodles to children as an afterschool snack, are the primary customers of the brand. Recently, a line of rice noodles and whole wheat with pulses, carrots, beans, and onions has also been introduced in India. In fact, "Maggi" has become a well-known brand for instant noodles in India and Malaysia.
Nestlé India Ltd (NIL) offered a variety of culinary products such as instant noodles, soups, sauces and ketchups, cooking aids (seasonings), etc., under the Maggi brand (Refer to Exhibit II for Maggi's product portfolio as of mid-2006). Of these, instant noodles had been NIL's main product category in the culinary segment since the launch of Maggi 2 Minute Noodles (Maggi noodles) in 1982. Over the years, Maggi noodles became a popular snack food product in India. In fact, the word "Maggi" has become a common term for any brand of noodles in India.
In mid 2008, New Zealand supermarkets introduced replacement formulations for its Beef, Oriental, and Curry flavours. A new feature is an extra sachet containing dehydrated vegetables. Maggi claims the new range contains 88% less total fat and 86% less saturated fat than the average of top-three (unnamed) 2-minute-noodle competitors. The new Maggi range also has considerably lower fat than its own previous formulation. However, the salt content has been increased by 31 percent. Consumers have not reacted well to the new formulations, complaining that they want the original chicken flavour back.
In the Philippines, packs of Maggi noodles were recalled by Nestle Philippines after it was said to be contaminated with salmonella.
Maggi noodles also contain the additives E150d and E627.[1] E150d is sometimes made from maize.[2]
Claimed to be "2 minute noodles", The Maggi noodle cake and seasoning is added into boiling water for two minutes and it is ready for consumption. Egg, seaweed, boiled vegetables or lemon can also be added to the noodles for a better flavour.
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Maggi Noodles are available in a large assortment of different flavours. They are:
Maggi noodles also produces instant noodles known as "Hot Bowl" noodles named "Cuppa Mania" in India. New drinkable Maggi noodle soups are also available.
Nestlé have faced criticism over their advertising of the Maggi brand, adhering to marketing regulations in developed countries, but making misleading claims in developing countries where regulation permits it. For example, in October 2008 Nestlé mistakenly aired an advert meant for Bangladeshi TV 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.[3]