The management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has said that the Indomie instant noodles products (and other brands of noodles) registered by NAFDAC and manufactured in Nigeria are safe for consumption.
Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, said this in a statement released in respect of the on-going controversy surrounding the consumption of noodles in the country.
It should be noted that the ministries of health in Malaysia and Taiwan recently recalled ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ noodles, following the discovery of cancer-laden chemicals in the product.
However, the affected noodles are not in Nigeria whereas NAFDAC only issued the warning to alert the Nigerian importers and consumers.
NAFDAC DG added that the noodles, ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ being recalled by some countries were not registered by NAFDAC for sale in Nigeria, just as they are also on the Import Prohibition List of the federal government and therefore urged importers not import the products into the country.
The clarification became necessary as most Nigerian consumers have regarded all noodles in the country as poisonous, whereas the warning sounded by NAFDAC was for importers not to import noodles into the country, as the ban on the product still subsists, noting that the noodles on sale across Nigeria are not imported, but locally made, and safe for consumption.
“The Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is aware of the recalls of Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ by the Ministries of Health in Malaysia and Taiwan on account of the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound associated with an increased risk of cancer.
“NAFDAC, as a responsible and responsive regulator, is taking swift actions to carry out random sampling and analysis of Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) for the presence of ethylene oxide, as well as extending the investigation to other brands of instant noodles offered for sale to Nigerians. We use this medium to assure the public that thorough investigation of the products will be conducted both at the factory and market levels and our findings will be communicated,” NAFDAC stated.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, the Indomie instant noodles products (and other brands of noodles) registered by NAFDAC for sale in the Nigerian market are manufactured in Nigeria and are only granted NAFDAC registration status following a strict regulatory regime covering all aspects of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
While assuring the public of thorough investigation of the products at the factory and market levels, the DG said the agency will continue to safeguard the health of the public.
“NAFDAC wishes to re-assure the public that the Agency is proactive and remains alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public,” NAFDAC added.
