The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says it will commence laboratory tests on Indomie instant noodles over allegations of a carcinogenic substance in the product.
This follows claims by health officials in Malaysia and Taiwan that they had detected ethylene oxide, a cancer causing agent, in Indomie’s special chicken flavour noodles leading, to the recall of the product.
However, Indofood, makers of Indomie noodles, insisted that their products are safe for consumption, and had received standard certifications and were produced in compliance with international food safety regulations.
To this end, NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency will from today, begin random sample tests of the noodles and other brands the harmful brand of noodles has not been smuggled into the country.
The compound of interest is ethylene oxide, so the director, food lab services directorate, has been engaged. He is working on the methodology for the analysis.
She said: “Tomorrow, May 2, 2023, NAFDAC’s food safety and applied nutrition directorate will randomly sample Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) from the production facilities while post-marketing surveillance directorate (will) samples from the markets.
“The compound of interest is ethylene oxide, so the director, food lab services directorate, has been engaged. He is working on the methodology for the analysis.”
Adeyeye informed that importation of noodles had been banned in Nigeria years ago, adding that the latest tests were “an extra caution to ensure that the product is not smuggled in.
“We also want to be sure that the spices used for the Indomie and other noodles in Nigeria are tested.”
Nigeria is ranked 11th in the global demand for noodles, with Indomie instant noodles being the most consumed brand in the country.