NAFDAC is to begin evaluating Indomie noodles for cancer-causing agents.

The random sampling of Indomie noodles, including the seasoning, from the markets and production facilities will start tomorrow (Tuesday), according to the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

The importation of Indomie noodles into Nigeria has reportedly been prohibited for a number of years, according to NAFDAC, and the items are listed as being prohibited.

This comes after health regulators in Malaysia and Taiwan found ethylene oxide, a chemical that may cause cancer, in Indomie’s “special chicken” flavor noodles.

The merchandise has been recalled in Malaysia and Taiwan.

Indofod, the company that produces Indomie noodles, defended the security of its goods, claiming that all instant noodles made by the ICBP in Indonesia were processed in accordance with the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control’s standards.

“ICBP has exported instant noodles to various countries around the world for more than 30 years.

In a press release from Indofood, the firm said that it “constantly ensures that all of its products are in compliance with the applicable food safety regulations and guidelines in Indonesia as well as other countries where the ICBP’s instant noodles are marketed.”

Ethylene oxide is a combustible, colorless gas with a sweet smell at normal temperature, according to the National Cancer Institute.

“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.

Nigeria is one of the countries that consumes the most instant noodles, and Indomie is a brand of instant noodles made by the Indonesian business Indofood.

Additionally, Indomie is exported to more than 90 nations worldwide.

The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated to The PUNCH on Monday that the organization has begun an investigation and is reacting right away to the news of the Indomie noodles being recalled by authorities in Taiwan and Malaysia.

Prof Adeyeye said, “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.

“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.”

Adeyeye stated that the results of the investigation would be properly updated to the public.