On Tuesday, NAFDAC will begin sampling Indomie noodles for a cancer-causing ingredient.
According to Naijanetgist the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has declared that it would begin random sampling of Indomie noodles, including seasoning, from production facilities and markets tomorrow (Tuesday).
This online newspaper learnt that NAFDAC also said the importation of Indomie noodles into Nigeria had been banned for many years and the products were on the prohibition list.
This comes after Malaysian and Taiwanese health inspectors discovered ethylene oxide, a potentially cancer-causing chemical, in Indomie's "special chicken" flavor noodles.
The product has been recalled in both Malaysia and Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Indofod, the makers of Indomie noodles, defended the safety of their products, claiming that all instant noodles produced by the ICBP in Indonesia were processed in accordance with the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and standards set by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control.
"For more than 30 years, ICBP has exported instant noodles to various countries around the world."
"The company constantly ensures that all of its products are in compliance with the applicable food safety regulations and guidelines in Indonesia as well as other countries where the ICBP's instant noodles are marketed," Indofood said in a press release.
At room temperature, ethylene oxide is a combustible colorless gas with a sweet odor, according to the National Cancer Institute.
"It is primarily used to make other chemicals, such as antifreeze." Ethylene oxide is employed as a pesticide and a sterilising agent in small concentrations. Ethylene oxide's propensity to break DNA makes it an effective sterilising agent but also accounts for its cancer-causing action, according to the institute.
Indomie is a brand of instant noodles produced by the Indonesian company, Indofood and Nigeria is one of the biggest consumers of instant noodles.
Indomie is also exported to more than 90 countries around the world.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said on Monday that the agency has started investigating and responding immediately to the news of the recalled Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities.
Prof Adeyeye said, “Tomorrow, (Tuesday) 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.
"It should be noted that for many years, Indomie noodles have been prohibited from being imported into the country." It is one of the foods prohibited by the government. It is not permitted in Nigeria and so is not registered with NAFDAC.
"We're taking extra precautions to ensure that the product isn't smuggled in, and if it is, our post-marketing surveillance will catch it." We also want to ensure that the spices used in the Indomie and other Nigerian noodles have been tested. That is what NAFDAC Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, as well as Post Marketing Surveillance, are doing this week at manufacturing sites and in the market."
Adeyeye added that the public will be duly updated with the outcomes of the investigation.
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