Health authorities in Malaysia and Taiwan claimed they detected ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic substance responsible for lymphoid and breast cancer in the product leading to a series of investigations of Indofoods, manufacturers of the product.
The Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH) promptly issued a directive to hold, test and release the Indomie Special Chicken Flavour instant noodles products from Malaysia at all entry points of the country.
Sequel to the claim by the Asian countries, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye on Monday announced that the agency would today (Tuesday) begin random sampling of Indomie noodles, including the seasoning, from the production facilities to ascertain their safety levels for consumption.
She was also quoted to have announced that the product had been banned from being imported into Nigeria.
Clarifying her earlier position Tuesday, Adeyeye urged consumers not to fret over the claims, affirming that the product was not banned.
She explained that the product and some others have been on the government prohibition list for many years to encourage local manufacturing.
Adeyeye also disclosed that the agency has countermeasures to prevent the importation of these products from affected nations.
“NAFDAC has registered several local manufacturers and the Indomie noodles have been safe”, she clarified.
“The Taiwan and Malaysia noodles have nothing to do with our local producers”, Channels Television quoted the NAFDAC boss as saying.
Professor Adeyey, however, stated that it was in no way disregarding the reports but ” is responding to the news as a cautionary post-marketing monitoring measure to ensure that locally-made noodles stay safe.”
The DG also reaffirmed that NAFDAC, will begin random sampling of Indomie noodles, including the seasoning, from the production facilities to ascertain their safety levels for consumption.