The Maharashtra government today decided ban Maggi noodles after some samples were found to contain lead above the permissible limit.

The announcement was made by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat at a press conference in Pune tonight.

Three of the six samples collected from places including Pune, Kolhapur and Aurangabad were found to contain lead above the permissible limit, the minister said.

The ban on Maggi will be in force from June 6, the minister said, adding that action will be taken against anyone found selling it.

Maharashtra's action came in the wake of several states banning the popular noodles following controversy over its content.

The order comes hours after the FDA commissioner announced that Maggi noodles were found safe with nine samples testing negative.