NAFDAC bans importation of indomie…cites cancer scare as reason

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has banned the importation of Indomie noodles into the country.

This is coming on the heels of the recalling of Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities, following the discovery of ethylene oxide, a cancer causing agent in the product.

Releasing a statement on Monday, the NAFDAC Director General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency would begin random sampling of indomie noodles including the seasoning from the production facilities tomorrow (Tuesday).

The statement reads in parts,” 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.”

She, however, promised that the Nigerians will be duly updated with the outcomes of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the agency said it will begin random sampling of indomie noodles including the seasoning from the production facilities tomorrow (Tuesday).

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, ethylene oxide is a colourless, highly reactive, end flammable gas widely used as an intermediate in the production of various chemicals.

WHO in a report noted that findings from animal investigations, test systems, and epidemiological findings suggested an increase in the incidence of human cancer, adding that the report concludes that ethylene oxide should be considered as a probable human carcinogen, and that its levels in the environment should be kept as low as feasible.

Indomie for years now has become a stable food particularly to children and the youths.

Virtually every family has indomie as a food item on their dining table.

This has made the price of indomie to skyrocket. About two years ago a carton of the popular size sold for N1200 but today it sells for N4200.

The good thing is that indomie is just of one the variants of noddle as there are other types like Dangote and golden penny brands.