National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has restated its ban on the importation of Indomie noodles into Nigeria. This announcement was made by the agency’s Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, in a press statement issued on Monday. This decision was prompted by the recent recall of Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia due to the presence of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen. The Director of Food Lab Services Directorate has been assigned to develop a methodology for the analysis of the spices used in Indomie noodles and other noodles in Nigeria.
According to Adeyeye, Indomie noodles have been on the government’s prohibition list for many years, and they are not registered by NAFDAC. However, the agency is taking extra precautions to ensure that the product is not smuggled into the country, and that the spices used in local production are safe. The agency will conduct random sampling of Indomie noodles and their seasoning from production facilities starting on Tuesday. The investigation’s findings will be made public, as promised by Adeyeye.
Ethylene oxide is a colourless, highly reactive, and flammable gas used in the production of various chemicals, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO report suggested that exposure to ethylene oxide could increase the incidence of human cancer and recommended that its levels in the environment be kept as low as possible.
