Patna, Oct. 20: Maggi noodles could be back on the plates shortly with the state government saying it would review the ban on the snack.

The government's decision follows the lifting of the ban on the sale of Maggi noodles by Karnataka and Gujarat after its samples passed all the tests in three laboratories designated by Bombay High Court.

Bihar had banned the sale of the noodles in June after adverse reports about its quality had come to the fore. "We would review all aspects on the developments. A decision regarding the same is expected once the office opens after Dussehra," said principal secretary, health, Brajesh Mehrotra.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned the sale of Maggi after laboratory tests had found presence of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in some Maggi packets. Nestlé India, which makes Maggi, had challenged the ban in Bombay High Court.

In August, the court lifted the nationwide ban imposed on the product but ordered a fresh test of samples of the product in three independent laboratories across the country.

Last week, Nestlé India had claimed that all the 90 samples of Maggi had cleared the tests conducted upon the high court's directions.

Sources in the health department said they would consult their counterparts in Karnataka and Gujarat before arriving at any decision.

"The department will consult the two states in addition to others who are going ahead with allowing the Maggi product back on the shelves. All angles will be looked into and so will the test results conducted by Nestlé India. A decision in this connection is expected by later this month or early November. If the state government is satisfied, the ban will be removed," a department official added.

The state's food safety wing had sent 27 samples of the product to a Calcutta-based laboratory and the reports did not show any signs of impurity.

However, the ban was not lifted with the government arguing that the Maggi samples in other states had shown high levels of lead and MSG.

Retailers are happy that the government is willing to reconsider the ban. "Maggi noodles is very popular. If the ban is removed after ensuring the product is safe, it will definitely be good for our business. Hardly any other brand sells like Maggi did. The ban has had an adverse impact on our business," Adarsh Kumar, a grocer in the Boring Road area, said.

Buyers said they were keeping their fingers crossed. "We have been eating Maggi noodles since we were kids and there have never been any health hazards. It will be great if Maggi comes back to the shelves," said Tarun Sharma of Nageshwar Colony.