Maggi (German: [ˈmaɡi] ⓘ, Italian: [ˈmaddʒi]) is an international brand of seasonings, instant soups, and noodles that originated in Switzerland in the late 19th century.
Under his leadership, the business developed into one of the pioneers of industrial food production, with the aim of improving the diet of working-class families through better nutrient supply and faster preparation.
The Maggi company, on the other hand, had difficulties challenging other suppliers of soup powder on the market, despite support from the Society.
[3] The product combined with legume meals to make a ready-made soup as competition for the meat extract invented by Justus von Liebig.
In a strike at the Singen plant in 1907, Maggi successfully mediated, accused the management of having lost "contact with the workforce" and suggested the establishment of a "workers' committee", an early form of the works council.
In 1933 Maggi opened a new factory for sauce production in Le Blanc-Mesnil (France); In 1940, New Milford in the USA followed as the eleventh and last factory to be founded abroad[9] During World War I, Maggi was mistaken as a German company in France and accused of spying; it had to fight in public media and in court to correct this image.
"[12] This servility of Maggi towards National Socialism is ostensibly explained by the economic interest in doing business with state or municipal institutions.
[15] After World War II, the German Maggi branch was saved from confiscation and dismantling only due to the intervention of the highest authorities of the Swiss Confederation in Bern and with the support of the Red Cross.
Ludwig Erhard, who knew the then general director Riggenbach well, stated that "its economic policy would falter if Maggi continued to pay such high wages.
[19] The merger of Nestlé and Maggi took place over a period of several years and with the help of a specially created company called SOPAD (Société de produits alimentaires et diététiques).
[22] By 2020, as part of the Simply Good initiative, the domestic Maggi range is to be geared more towards well-known and healthier ingredients and the salt content to be reduced.
In Germany, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Bénin, Gambia, Sénégal, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Niger, and Mauritania and parts of the Middle East, Maggi cubes are an integral 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.
[34] In India, Maggi Masala noodles carry a green dot, meaning they are specifically formulated to serve vegetarians.
In the Philippines, localized versions of Maggi instant noodles were sold until 2011 when the product group was recalled for suspected Salmonella contamination.
[36][37] It did not return to market, while Nestlé continues to sell seasoning products including the popular Maggi Magic Sarap.
Heyne Verlag placed Maggi soup adverts in the body of various fictional works, including the German edition of Pyramids by Terry Pratchett.
[39][40][41] 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 (MSG), as well as up to 17 times the permissible limit of lead.
The advert made false claims that the noodles are rich in protein and calcium and would "help to build strong muscles, bone, and hair".