The National Agency of Food Drugs (NAFDAC) stated on Thursday that domestically produced noodles in Nigeria do not contain Ethylene Oxide or its byproducts. Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, shared this information during a media briefing where she presented the results of an investigation into the presence of ethylene oxide in noodles manufactured in the country.
The investigation was initiated due to the recall of Indomie Instant Noodles Special Chicken Flavour by Malaysia and Taiwan, following concerns about the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Adeyeye assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted on the noodles at both the factory and market levels, and that the findings would be communicated. Samples of Indomie instant noodles from production facilities were collected, and the investigation was expanded to include other brands of instant noodles available in Nigeria.
NAFDAC does not register imported noodles due to a ban imposed by the Nigerian government several years ago to promote local production. Therefore, the focus was on domestically produced noodles. A total of 114 samples of instant noodles and seasonings were collected from production facilities across the country, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
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According to Adeyeye, the findings revealed that neither ethylene oxide nor its derivative was detected in any of the domestically produced instant noodles and their seasonings. The investigation also analyzed the samples for other contaminants such as mycotoxins and heavy metals.
She said:” At the time of my initial press release on the issue, I assured the public that thorough investigation of the products would be conducted both at the factory and market levels and that our findings would be communicated.
“As soon as we received the news of the product recalls in Malaysia and Taiwan, immediately I requested the Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to carry out investigation and random sampling of Indomie instant noodles from the production facilities.”
“And extend the investigation to other brands of instant noodles offered for sale to Nigerians.
“Imported noodles are not expected to be sold in Nigeria because NAFDAC does not register imported noodles as a result of the ban by the Nigerian government many years ago to foster local production.
“Samples of chicken flavoured instant noodles of various brands and the seasonings were drawn from the production facilities across the country to ensure robust investigation.
“A total of one hundred and fourteen (114) samples of instant noodles and the seasonings were received, while samples were also colleted from Lagos, Abuja and Kano”.