A government research institute on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that a sample of Maggi noodles showed that the lead content was within permissible limits but monosodium glutamate (MSG) was on the higher side, according to IANS.

The reports by the Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute were directly sent to the apex court in a sealed cover. According to IANS, senior counsel Vibha Datta Makhija, appearing for the central government had seen this conclusion.

In response, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for manufacturers Nestle India Ltd, told the court that that MSG occurs naturally in Maggi and was not an added flavour and added that government notification has accepted Nestle's position that its presence could not be determined by any laboratory tests.

The copies of the test report will be given to all the parties appearing before the court in the matter within 3 days as the court adjourned the hearing to July 19.

The institute, the court had said, "shall also clarify whether the test relating to glutamic acid includes the test pertaining to monosodium glutamate".