Maggie noodles now on a flash sale, registration required

Nestle was in a big ‘soup’ this year when the company’s highest selling product, the Maggie 2-minute noodles was banned from selling in the market. The ban came after the apex consumer court on Monday issued notice to Nestle India Limited on a Rs 640-crore suit against it by the Centre for alleged unfair trade practices and other charges pertaining to Maggi noodles and directed the Government to test the samples afresh at accredited labs.

Nestle India on Monday relaunched its popular Maggi noodles in India, five months after they were banned for allegedly containing lead beyond permissible levels. Besides, the Swiss food major has partnered with online marketplace Snapdeal for the rollout.

However, when you take a look at the Snapdeal shopping website, you will find that Maggie is now available on sale, but you need to register for it. Maggie will now witness a Flipkart-styled flash sale where registrations are compulsory before the flash sale purchase. Is the company trying the same stunt, like Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, to gain back its fame and sales?

In June, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had banned Maggi noodles, saying it was "unsafe and hazardous" for consumption after finding lead beyond permissible limits. The company had soon withdrawn the noodles brand from the market.

Nestle India said all samples of Maggi Noodles Masala have been cleared by three National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited labs as mandated by the Bombay High Court. On October 26, Nestle had said that it has resumed manufacturing Maggi noodles and they will hit the markets after getting clearances from food testing labs.

Nestle India, which took a hit of Rs 450 crore, including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was banned, had stated it would continue with the product's existing formula and would not change ingredients.