Cancer Chemicals: NAFDAC Gives Fresh Updates on Indomie Noodles Probe, Ban

Cancer Chemicals: NAFDAC Gives Fresh Updates on Indomie Noodles Probe, Ban

By our reporter 

Following global safety concerns on popular staple, Indomie Noodles, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Monday, said it will on Tuesday commence investigations.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement, said: “Tomorrow (today), May 2, 2023, NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate will randomly sample Indomie noodles (including the seasoning).

The compound of interest is ethylene oxide. The Director, Food Lab Services Directorate, has been engaged. He is working on methodology for the analysis.

“It should be noted that Indomie noodles have been banned from being imported into the country for many years. It is one of the foods on the government prohibition list. It is not allowed in Nigeria, and therefore, not registered by NAFDAC. What we are doing is extra caution to ensure that the product is not smuggled in, and if so, our post-marketing surveillance would detect it.

 READ ALSO: Expert Explains Dangers of Feeding Babies with Noodles, Beverages

“We also want to be sure that the spices used for Indomie and other noodles in Nigeria are tested. That is what NAFDAC Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) and Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS) are doing this week at the production facilities and in the market. The public will be duly updated with outcomes of the investigation.”

THECONSCIENCEng reports that the agency, in a message shared by its Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, a professor, confirmed that indomie noodles remain banned in Nigeria.

Mrs Adeyeye said the products flagged by both Taiwan and Malaysian health authorities are not registered in Nigeria and so have nothing to do with the country. She, however, noted that the investigations being conducted are simply being cautious.

Also reacting to the development, the management of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Noodles in Nigeria, has said its products are 100 per cent locally produced and are safe for consumption.

The media had earlier reported that the Taiwan and Malaysian authorities had stopped the sale of the chicken flavour of the products following the detection of ethylene oxide, a substance known to cause cancer, in the product.

Meanwhile, earlier studies have suggested that regular consumption of rice, noodle and bread increase the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney damage, stroke and obesity.

In recent times, there have been claims and counterclaims that long-term consumption of foods with high glycemic index, potassium bromate and arsenic increases risk of developing non-communicable diseases.