Sequel to the recalled of Indomie Noodles by the Taiwan and Malaysian health authorities, due to the alleged detection of ethylene oxide in the chicken flavour of the product, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed it’s readiness to begin random testing of the product in Nigeria from Tuesday, 2 May 2023.
Ethylene oxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is used to sterilise medical devices and spices and has been described as a cancer-causing chemical.
Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, in her response to the development through a press statement said the agency’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate will immediately swing into action on Tuesday by sampling Indomie Noodles from the production point to market places.
“Tomorrow, 2 May, 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”, she revealed.
The NAFDAC boss also hinted on the status of the product, noting that it is one of the products on the prohibition list of the Nigerian government, as it is banned from being imported into the country for several years.
She further explained the essence of the agency’s efforts in preventing the illegal importation of Indomie Noodles into the country, saying it is also to ensure that the spices used for Indomie and other noodles are tested.
“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”, Adeyeye disclosed.
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