NAFDAC begins market surveillance over cancer laden Indomie noodles

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, said it will begin random sampling of indomie noodles including the seasoning from the production facilities today (Tuesday).

This follows the report of the recalling of indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities over the discovery of ethylene oxide, a cancer causing agent.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this in a press statement Monday.

The NAFDAC boss reaffirmed that the importation of Indomie noodles into the country has been banned by the government.

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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.”

The NAFDAC boss noted that the compound of interest was ethylene oxide , stating that the Director of Food Lab Services Directorate has been engaged and has started working on the methodology for the analysis.

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