As far as pregnancy cravings go, Maggi is a top contender. But can you eat Maggi guilt-free and more importantly scare-free in pregnancy even if mummy, papa, husband, aunty or in-laws are telling you not to? Short answer, yes, in moderation. Long answer: let’s decode.
Summary
Maggi, a type of instant noodle, is not one of the healthiest food options for anyone let alone pregnant women. But that is because all instant noodles are high on sodium, low on nutritional value and contain highly processed ingredients. Maggi is not specially good or bad. In this blog, we address why Maggi gets a bad name (the MSG controversy), how much is too much when it comes to Maggi and pregnant women, and what are healthier swaps for Maggi for pregnant women.
Why is Maggi Considered Unhealthy During Pregnancy?
There are two reasons why you or people around you might feel eating Maggi will lead to side effects in pregnancy — Maggi and the Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) controversy and the actual nutritional value of Maggi.
Maggi, the MSG Controversy and Perception of Maggi as Unsafe for Pregnancy
In 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found that
Nestle’s Maggi had:
- Excess lead: Lead levels exceeded the safe limit of 2.5 ppm.
- Misleading label: The label falsely claimed “No added MSG.”
- Unapproved product: Maggi Oats Masala Noodle with Tastemaker was released without approval.
Nestle recalled and destroyed 38,000 tonnes of Maggi. Ever since, Nestle states that Maggi is safe for consumption. Maggi has been back in the market since 2017.
While Maggi may not have MSG anymore, there are other foods that have been suspected of high levels of MSG and are best consumed in moderation by pregnant women.
A common myth about Maggi
A lot of people feel that Maggi could be safer to eat in the first trimester but not in the second or third trimester. This common misbelief about Maggi extends to other foods as well i.e. you can getaway with unhealthy eating in the first trimester but not in third because you are closer to pregnancy. The fact remains every women’s pregnancy journey is different. While some could have an easier first trimester, others third. Moderation is always recommended.
What’s Alarming About the Nutritional Value of Maggi?
- Maggi has very high sodium content: 1117.2 per 100 gm. The average packet available in the market today weighs 70 gms i.e. 890 mg of sodium. This is alarming because the recommended daily sodium intake for pregnant women is generally the same as for non-pregnant adults: 1,500 milligrams per day or less. For pregnant women going through complications related to kidney, heart or edema, the prescribed limit is even lower.
Food for thought: A 70 gm packet of Maggi is half your prescribed amount of sodium in a day.
- Maggi only has about 2gms of fibre for about 427 calories. This takes daily calorie requirements high, specially for women in their first trimester who don’t need any additional calories, but achieves very little towards pregnant women’s daily goal of fibre intake (28gms per day).
- Maggi is made of refined flour. While limited consumption of refined flour may not be downright harmful for pregnant women, it can still lead to discomfort caused by digestive issues. However, for women who consumed excessive refined flour and those with gestational diabetes, it has been linked to giving birth to children who were more likely to be overweight or obese at age 7.
What’s Not So Alarming About the Nutritional Value of Maggi?
- Women in their 2nd and 3rd trimester need around 400-500 additional calories for healthy pregnancy. Ideally, these calories should come from healthier alternatives (listed below), but if you really want it, a small 70gms packet shouldn’t make a big dent towards your daily calorie requirements
- Maggi has about 8 gms of protein in a 70 gms packet which is decent % for a food labelled “unhealthy.”
The question remains: Should you eat Maggi during pregnancy?
We believe that moderation is key and pregnant women should be able to consume Maggi once in a while. But we also understand that everyone has a different definition of once in a while so we have prepared this mental map to help you make the decision.
“But I am still unsure, internet says that Maggi can cause miscarriage and have harmful side-effects”
If this is you, your peace of mind is of utmost importance during pregnancy. If your Maggi cravings won’t go but you want to avoid Maggi, we have still got you covered. Here are some healthy swaps that will give you similar taste and texture punch without the added guilt trip.
No food is absolutely bad, and sometimes as humans our cravings do dictate our choices. Maggi is no exception. But for pregnant women, it is important to be cautious of any underlying pregnancy-related complications that may lead your doctor to advise refraining from eating Maggi. In any case, being informed helps towards making healthier choices.
We wish you or your loved ones a happy and healthy pregnancy!
