NAFDAC Suspects ‘Cancer Causing Substance’ In Indomie Noodles, Begins Investigation On Tuesday

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in (NAFDAC) said it would begin the random sampling of Indomie noodles, including the seasoning from the production facilities and the markets tomorrow Tuesday, May 2 2023.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that this was disclosed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye on Monday May 1, 2023.

This is following the detection of a compound called ethylene oxide, a potentially cancer-causing substance in Indomie’s ‘special chicken’ flavour noodles by health officials in Malaysia and Taiwan.

Prof Adeyeye said that the agency has started investigating and responding immediately to the news of the recalled Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities.

“Tomorrow, (Tuesday) May 2, 2023, NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate will randomly sample Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) from the production facilities while Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate samples from the markets. The compound of interest is ethylene oxide, so the Director, Food Lab Services Directorate has been engaged. He is working on the methodology for the analysis,” Prof Adeyeye said.

She noted that the importation of Indomie noodles into Nigeria had been banned for many years and the products were on the prohibition list.

DON’T MISS: Lagos Government Gives Reason For Demolishing 13 Buildings At Ajao Estate

Indomie is a brand of instant noodles produced by the Indonesian company, Indofood and Nigeria is one of the biggest consumers of instant noodles. Indomie is also exported to more than 90 countries around the world.

“It should be noted that 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 and Post Marketing Surveillance are doing this week at the production facilities and in the market respectively.”

This Online News Media reports that according to the National Cancer Institute, ethylene oxide is a flammable colourless gas with a sweet odour at room temperature.

“It is used primarily to produce other chemicals, including antifreeze. In smaller amounts, ethylene oxide is used as a pesticide and a sterilising agent. The ability of ethylene oxide to damage DNA makes it an effective sterilising agent but also accounts for its cancer-causing activity,” the institute said.