BHUBANESWAR: The state government banned Maggi instant noodles after lab tests revealed the product contains monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Health secretary Arti Ahuja said the decision to ban the instant noodles was taken after tests at the State Public Health Laboratory here revealed it contained MSG. "We have banned all variants of Maggi noodles as random samples tested at the laboratory found it contained MSG," she said. MSG is a flavour enhancer and may be harmful for health.

In a letter addressed to the district collectors, Ahuja asked for "action as required and enforce the ban immediately."

On the relevance of the ban at a time when Nestle had already withdrawn the product, Ahuja said, "Recall of the product is a voluntary exercise by the manufacturer. It doesn't give the government any power to prosecute. However, an official ban will empower the government to take legal action against the making and sale of Maggi anywhere inside the state."

On such an inordinate delay in imposing the ban, Ahuja said the government had followed due procedures.

The government had earlier said it had sent samples to an authorized laboratory in Pune to test the lead level in the product and its action would depend on the lab findings. Ahuja said the government was yet to receive results of tests reports from Pune.

