Cancer scare: NAFDAC begins random testing of Indomie noodles

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) would on Tuesday, May 2^nd, commence random testing of Indomie noodles in Nigeria.

The development followed the recent cancer scare associated with Indomie noodles which necessitated the recall of the consumable product in Taiwan and Malaysia.

The authorities in the countries recalled Indomie noodles over reports that they contain ingredients causing cancer.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Monday, May 1^st, in a statement noted that the importation of Indomie noodles had been banned from Nigeria many years ago.

She said: “NAFDAC started investigating and responding immediately to the news of recalled Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities.

“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 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.”

The regulatory agency noted that importation of Indomie noodles into Nigeria is prohibited.

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According to her, “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 an extra caution to ensure that the product is not smuggled in, and if so, our post marketing surveillance would detect it. We also want to be sure that the spices used for the 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, respectively. Thank you. The public will be duly updated with the outcomes of the investigation.”

The Star