A man in India recently divorced his wife because she only ever cooked instant noodles for every meal. Known as the “Maggi case,” the judge handling the case explained that the husband complained his wife only bought and cooked instant noodles, and it eventually led to their split.
In India, couples must wait a year before a divorce to try to reconcile, but few do. This case reflects global trends, where divorce rates have been on the rise since the 1970s, although marriage rates have declined, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., the pandemic disrupted weddings, with marriage rates hitting a historic low in 2020. Though wedding numbers rebounded as restrictions lifted, experts remain uncertain about when marriage rates might return to pre-pandemic levels.