Ayurvedic Maggi
I am rapidly becoming a big fan of Girish Shahane. He debunked many historical myths in prevalence in our society through his earlier articles on Scroll. Today, he has boldly exposed Ayurveda, the elephant in the room (“Maggi controversy: Millions of Indians face danger of lead poisoning ‒ from Ayurveda”).

In my opinion, it is the medical professionals who should be at the forefront of the movement to expose quackery in medicine and health. However, I read an account of a parent here on Scroll who said that the doctors are way too overburdened and do not have time even for themselves. So, it is left to intrepid writers like Girish Shahane who, with their clear critical thinking, enlighten the society and boldly delineate a path forward. May his tribe flourish. – Kalind Pathak


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Ayurveda might be problematic, but it is not food. We are talking about food, and not Ayurveda. It looks like a diversionary tactic, again. – Rudra Prayag


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You are diverting from the topic in favour of Maggi. And for what – to get more real-time traffic?


In Ayurveda, lead is called naga. It is very rarely used in practice, perhaps less than 0.1%. You mentioned 20% of Ayurvedic medicines contain lead. You have written a bogus article to favour the American drug lobby. Without proper knowledge, you have written this article, spreading a wrong message to the world. – Dr Pradeep Kumar


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This article is biased, without any evidence, and written only to degrade the name of Ayurveda. Facts written in this article are not correct. The author unnecessarily brought the name of Ayurveda into the Maggi controversy. – Vikram Kumar


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The article incompetently adjudged Ayurveda. It is completely out of line and if the focus is on "2 minute" fixes, it is best you stick to the point. Frankly, the article looks like an implant by an overeager PR department deflecting the lapses of the MNC.


Wonder if such a lapse with Maggi in the US or the EU would have resulted in massive product recalls and class action suits. I know I want to return and seek refund for the two packets of Maggi at home.


Kindly pull up your journalist for the lack of homework on Ayurveda. – Ranjit Puranik


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It is true that some Ayurvedic medicines are indeed found to contain harmless, unhealthy amounts of lead.  This need not be used to blame the tradition supporters and Ayurveda, just as the much maligned case of the noodles can't be used for an occasion to blame the modernists and the modern food processing industry.


Let us have a close look at the justified claims of harmful quantities of lead in some Ayurvedic medicines with some clarity:

Ayurveda asserts that if the medicine that is prepared with purified metallic ingredients, they are worthy of being consuming but with two specific conditions. One is that they need to be 'purified' to be worthy of consumption and the other is that they need to be consumed in very small quantities. The 'purified' heavy metal based medicines are recommended to be purified in a highly specific sets of processes involving laborious methods, specific temperature zones generated by the combustion of specific dravysa, in the prescribed sequence.

This said, neither the manufacturer of the modern medicine/food nor the traditional medicine/food must be allowed to poison the gullible consumers with impunity. They need to be exposed, case by case and punished case by case without holding academics responsible. – Dr D Bharadwaj


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First of all, the pride the author takes in eating fresh food is unwarranted (unless he's an NRI) because of the polluted water sources and the constant overuse of fertilisers.  The food we eat – the vegetables, fruits and meat – are all full of poisons.


Secondly, linking Maggi noodles and Ayurvedic medicines is unwarranted. Indeed, the author's critique can be used by Ayurvedic vaids to defend themselves as well.  They may note that our soil, water and air are all so hopelessly polluted that the government may want to address them before targeting the poor vaids. If they are smart, they may point to the over-prescription by many "modern" doctors and the very real danger it poses. This critique is a recipe for maintaining the current situation – a sort of free market in poisoning Indians to death.


The correct thing to do, I believe, is to support the government's action (if justified) but also demand action in other cases of poisoning.  The current government, though, is unlikely to take action against Ayurvedic medicines.  Not only will they have the charlatan Baba Ramdev and the hordes of Hindutva trolls screaming murder but also, how can anything "Hindu" be bad?  You are better off talking about poisons in Unani medicines if you want a sympathetic hearing, Girish! – M Suresh


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What you are suggesting is that because Ayurvedic treatments or household paints contain toxic levels of certain contaminants, we should ignore the presence of such contaminants in other consumable items? Where's the logic in that? Are you saying that just because the levels of lead in Maggi noodles are far less than the levels of lead in Ayurvedic remedies we should ignore the problem with Maggi noodles and focus first on other (more dangerous) sources of lead?


Please don't write articles that validate a dangerous level of apathy towards easily fixable problems. If Maggi noodles contain lead, let's fix that with some governmental oversight and sensible legislation. In the meantime, please shut up and check your premises. – Anjou


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After reading the article, we found it more favourable towards Maggi, even after dangerous levels of lead was detected in it. It seemed to suggest that eating Maggi is safe and good, and is trying to defame Ayurveda because it is an Indian system of medicine. As I find in your writing, I think you like western things, not Indian. – Elzac Herbal India