By Uche Amunike
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has asked Nigerians not to be alarmed by the news of Indomie Noodles Banned in Malaysia and Taiwan after cancer causing substance, Ethylene Oxide, was detected by their health officials, because importation of Noodles had long been banned into the country and the ban, yet to be lifted.
The Ministry of Health of Malaysia had recalled the affected products from every market in Malaysia and Taiwan, after issuing a directive to hold, test and release the Indomie Special Chicken Flavor instant noodles products from all entry points in the country.
Nigeria is one of the largest consumers of noodles globally and the News of Indomie noodles banned in both Asian countries was a cause for concern for both consumers and the government.
In response to the news about the latest developments in Malaysia and Taiwan, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye stated that instant noodles had always been prohibited from being imported into Nigeria by the federal government. She also explained that both the variant and the flavour are neither registered by the agency, nor are they produced locally in the country. She maintained that its ban into Nigeria actually happened years ago.
That notwithstanding, she gave the assurance that an organ of the agency known as Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) has kicked off a post-marketing surveillance (PMS), while the Food Lab Services Directorate has also been activated on the matter.
A random sampling of both Indomie noodles and its seasoning from production facilities here in Nigeria and the markets will be started by NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate, in order to find out for sure, that the variants of Noodles produced and marketed in Nigeria are safe for consumption.
In reaction to the ongoing investigation concerning the Indomie noodles banned in Malaysia and Taiwan, the manufacturer of Indomie Instant Noodles in Nigeria, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, has asked Nigerians not to panic as they had nothing to worry about .
According to the Group Public Relations Manager of the company, Tope, Ashiwaju, Indomie Instant Noodles is produced locally in the country under the strictest manufacturing processes, which constantly undergoes supervision by government regulatory authorities periodically.
He stressed that the company has constantly met with the standard procedures set up by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), the International Standard Organization (ISO) as well as other global standards, adding that it is highly rated as a nutritious meal for the entire family. He gave his assurances that the organization is committed to satisfying its customers by keeping up with providing them with the best standards indomie noodles.
The random testing of samples by NAFDAC has kicked off and the outcome will convince consumers of the product that their favorite noodles are safe for consumption.
