NAFDAC warns public against consuming recalled Indomie ‘Vegetable Flavour’

Anxiety is rising nationwide following a public alert by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over the recall of Indomie Noodles, Vegetable Flavour, due to undeclared allergens.

In Public Alert No. 041/2025, NAFDAC warned that the affected product contains milk and eggs—substances that could trigger severe or life-threatening reactions in people with allergies or intolerances.

The recall follows a notification from France’s food safety authority, Rappel Conso, which flagged the product for failing to declare these allergens on its label.

The alert covers all batches of Indomie Noodles, Vegetable Flavour, with a best-before date of February 6, 2026. While the country of origin was not specified, NAFDAC said vigilance was necessary to prevent illegal importation or circulation in Nigeria, particularly through online purchases or international travel.

“Although the official risk of these products entering Nigeria is low due to the Federal Government’s ban on noodle importation, there remains a need for heightened vigilance to prevent possible illicit entry or circulation,” the agency stated.

NAFDAC directed zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and immediately remove any of the recalled product if found. Distributors, retailers, and consumers were advised to avoid distributing, selling, or consuming the noodles.

The public was urged to report suspected sales or adverse reactions via the nearest NAFDAC office or through the hotline 0800-162-3322.

The recall has sparked widespread concern online, with many Nigerians expressing fears about food safety and regulatory enforcement.

Some users highlighted the potential risk to children, a key consumer group of instant noodles, while others called for stricter border controls and checks on online marketplaces.

Clarifying the situation, Indomie Nigeria stated that it neither produces nor distributes any “Vegetable Flavour” variant of Indomie noodles.

In a statement to Sunday PUNCH, the company described reports linking the recall to Indomie Nigeria as misleading, noting that the recalled product is a foreign variant flagged in France in August 2025.

The firm reassured consumers that all locally produced Indomie noodles by Dufil Prima Foods comply with regulatory and safety standards.

NAFDAC and Indomie Nigeria emphasized that only the foreign “Vegetable Flavour” product is implicated, while local Indomie variants remain safe for consumption.