Indofood, the maker of the popular Indomie instant noodles, has come under scrutiny after its products were banned in Taiwan and Malaysia due to an increased cancer risk.
Health officials in both countries discovered the presence of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical, in the “special chicken” flavor noodles.
“The detection of ethylene oxide in the product did not comply with [standards],” said the department of health in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, in a statement.
In response to the allegations, Indofood’s board member, Taufik Wiraatmadja, defended the safety of the noodles, stating that all of its products are processed in compliance with international food safety regulations and have received standard certifications.
“All instant noodles produced by ICBP in Indonesia are processed in compliance with the food safety standards from the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and standards set by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (‘BPOM RI’),” Wiraatmadja said in a statement.
“Our instant noodles have received Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI), and are produced in certified production facilities based on international standards.”
However, the ministry of health in Malaysia revealed that it had examined 36 samples of instant noodles from various brands since 2022, with 11 samples found to contain ethylene oxide.
As a result, it has taken enforcement actions and recalled the affected products. It is unclear if other brands were implicated.
This ban has sparked concerns among consumers who rely on instant noodles as a quick and convenient meal option.
As Indofood faces the consequences of the ban, health authorities continue to emphasize the importance of food safety regulations in protecting consumers.
