He used to pocket Rs 2,000 a day until recently and now he barely manages Rs 1,000.

Meet Akhilesh Kumar whose earnings have plummeted by a sharp 50 per cent after the recent recall of Maggi noodles over the lead and monosodium glutamate controversy.

Kumar mans a Nestle kiosk near Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Bariatu, Ranchi.

Soon after he opened the shop about three years ago, Kumar became popular as the local Maggi wala who serves piping hot two-minute noodles for only Rs 18 a plate.

"In the initial days, there were not many takers as people thought I sold Maggi packets. But, after I wrote ready-to-eat Maggi is sold here on an A4 size paper and pasted it outside the shop, my business started booming," said Kumar.

Now, he has removed that piece of paper. "About a week ago, the company officials came and took away the entire stock of Maggi. The two-minute noodle had fetched high revenue for me. Now, I find it difficult to meet ends," rued Kumar.

Asked what he personally felt about the entire row, Kumar said, " Mere khayal se Maggi yahan agal bagal khule mein bikne wale samosa aur kachaudi se toh behtar hai. (In my opinion, Maggi is better than the samosa and kachaudi that are sold in the open). These items are fried again and again in the same oil. Isn't Maggi better than that? Which person eats Maggi thrice a day that he will fall sick?"

Since Kumar's kiosk is strictly for Nestle products, his sales are now limited to tea, coffee, water and chocolates.