Guwahati, Sept. 17: Wai Wai noodles will soon be back on shop shelves in Assam as the state government today lifted the ban on two variants of the instant noodles, declaring the products safe for human consumption.

According to a government release issued today, the ban on Wai Wai Ready to Eat Noodles and Wai Wai 1-2-3 Noodles (mini) was withdrawn after the state's food analyst found that the company had improved the products, which now conform to prescribed standards.

The products were banned on June 15 after samples of the products were found to be unsafe as they contained monosodium glutamate, a banned substance.

The prohibition notification was issued to CG Foods - makers of Wai Wai noodles - prohibiting manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of the products in the state.

Thereafter, the designated food safety officer of Kamrup (metro) district served an improvement notice to CG Foods, located at Industrial Growth Centre at Chaygaon in Kamrup district.

After necessary steps were taken by the company to improve the product, samples of the two variants were drawn and sent for further analysis to the food analyst laboratory here at Bamunimaidam.

After conducting the tests, the food analyst opined that these samples of Wai Wai variants conformed to the prescribed standards.

An official in the health and family welfare department of Assam told The Telegraph today that the ban on Maggi Xtra Delicious Chicken Noodles would, however, remain in force in the state.

The commissioner of food safety, Assam, had prohibited the storage, distribution and sale of Maggi Xtra Delicious Chicken Noodles, marketed by Nestle India Limited, in the state and directed the designated food safety officers of the districts to strictly enforce the ban.

"On withdrawing the ban on the Maggi variant, a final decision will taken on the basis of recommendations of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the country's apex food regulator," the source said.

Masoor dal ban

The state government prohibited the storage, distribution and sale of masoor dal, manufactured and packed by R.S. Triveni Foods Private Limited of Delhi, for a period of six months with immediate effect.

The food analyst of the Assam government had found the masoor dal samples of the company coated with an oily substance, which was declared unsafe according to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. "If consumed, it could have deleterious effect on human health," the press release said.

The commissioner of food safety, Assam, has directed the designated food safety officers to strictly enforce this ban.