The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has declared that noodles produced in Nigeria are safe for consumption.
Taiwan and Malaysian health authorities revealed recently that traces of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing substance were found in Indomie’s “special chicken” flavour.
This prompted NAFDAC to conduct tests on noodles produced in Nigeria to ensure that they do not contain ethylene oxide.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday stated that ethylene oxide or its derivative was not found in any of the instant noodles produced in Nigeria and their seasonings which make them safe for consumption.
She also noted that the level of mycotoxin and the heavy metals were within the internationally acceptable limit, “therefore, the noodles made in Nigeria are very safe to eat.”
The NAFDAC boss narrated how the sampling of the noodles was conducted: “Samples of chicken flavoured instant noodles of various brands (and the seasonings) were drawn from the production facilities across the country.
“This was to ensure that the investigation was robust, covering other instant noodles brands manufactured in Nigeria, besides Indomie, the implicated brand.
“The Post Marketing Surveillance Division also visited markets/retail outlets in the major cities of Lagos, Abuja, and Kano and drew samples of instant noodles for laboratory analysis.
“The market visits served as surveillance for the presence of the Taiwan and Malaysian special chicken noodles in the Nigerian market.
“The samples drawn from production facilities and trade were properly packaged and delivered in good condition to our Central Laboratory, Oshodi, Lagos, where analytical activities commenced immediately in accordance with international standards and methods of analysis.”
She explained that a total of 114 samples of instant noodles and the seasonings were received, even as she re-assured the public of the agency’s commitment to protecting the health of the public.