The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the importation of Indomie noodles into Nigeria due to allegations of a cancer-causing ingredient detected in the noodles and the agency's non-registration.
Naijanetgist reports that Malaysian and Taiwanese health regulators have discovered ethylene oxide, a chemical found in Indomie's "special chicken" flavor noodles.
Ethylene oxide is a colorless, odorless gas used to sterilize medical devices and spices and is suspected of causing cancer.
Malaysia's Ministry of Health stated that it investigated 36 samples of instant noodles from various brands since 2022 and discovered that 11 samples contained ethylene oxide.
The product has since been recalled in both countries.
Speaking about the development, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye stated that the agency would commence random sample testing of the noodles and other brands on May 2.
Adeyeye told Newsmen on Monday that the NAFDAC began investigating after learning of the product recalls by Taiwan and Malaysia officials.
"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 the post marketing surveillance directorate (will) samples from the markets," she explained.
“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 DG said the product is on the prohibition list of the federal government, adding that it is not registered by the agency and had been banned from importation to Nigeria years ago.
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