NAFDAC begins random sampling of ‘Indomie noodles’ over fears of cancer-causing substance

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that it will commence a random sampling of the Indomie brand of edible noodles over fears of the product of containing a chemical substance identified as ethylene oxide, said to be a potentially cancer-causing compound.

According to the National Cancer Institute, ethylene oxide is a flammable colourless gas with a sweet odour at room temperature.

“It is used primarily to produce other chemicals, including antifreeze. In smaller amounts, ethylene oxide is used as a pesticide and a sterilizing agent. The ability of ethylene oxide to damage DNA makes it an effective sterilizing agent but also accounts for its cancer-causing activity,” the institute said.

The fears were initially raised after Indofood, the maker of the popular Indomie instant noodles, came under scrutiny following the ban slammed on its ‘special chicken’ flavour noodles products in Taiwan and Malaysia over increased cancer risk levels.

“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’).

“Our instant noodles have received Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI), and are produced in certified production facilities based on international standards,” Wiraatmadja said in a statement.

However, the Ministry of Health in Malaysia then disclosed 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.

Reacting to the ban on the noodles brand, NAFDAC said it will from Tuesday begin a random sampling of the company’s products to determine the veracity or level of presence of the harmful compound in the foods packaged by the firm for sale in Nigeria.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye informed newsmen , Monday that the agency has started investigating and responding immediately to the news of the recalled Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities.

“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 and 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,” she noted.

Adeyeye, however assured Nigerian consumers that her agency will ‘duly keep the public updated on the outcomes of the investigation.’

Meanwhile, makers of Indomie noodles, Indofood defended the safety of its products, saying 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.

“ICBP has exported instant noodles to various countries around the world for more than 30 years. The Company continuously 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 ICBP’s instant noodles are marketed,” a press statement by Indofood read in part.