A day after Kerala government decided to temporarily stop the sale of Maggi noodles from its retail outlets, test of samples of the instant food at a lab in Kochi has shown that the lead content was below permissible limit, a top food safety official said today.

Samples of three varieties of Maggi noodles were tested at a laboratory in Kochi and the results showed the lead content was within permissible limit, Joint Commissioner, Food Safety, D Asharafudeen said.

However, test results of taste-enhancer monosodium glutamate in these products have not yet been received, the Joint Commissioner told PTI in Thiruvananthapuram.

The popular brand of noodles is facing a storm of controversy following Uttar Pradesh FSDA finding monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of prescribed limit in samples of the snack, prompting several state governments to order tests.

Giving details of the tests, Asharafudeen said the Maggi extra delicious noodles sample was found to have lead content of 0.42 PPM, Maggi Two Minutes noodles .09 ppm and Maggi Oats noodles .07 ppm. "All are normal value," he said adding the permissible limit of lead was 2.5 ppm.

Samples were taken from different stores on a random basis, officials added. On Tuesday, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation, also known as Supplyco, had stopped the sale of Maggi noodles through its over 1,400 outlets following the controversy.

Bakers Association of Kerala has also decided not to sell noodles of all varieties for the time being.