The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday confirmed that the Nigerian made noodles is safe for household consumption, noting that the product does not contain ethylene oxide.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, on Thursday made this disclosure while feeding questions from journalists in Abuja.
The press briefing followed research whether the product contains ethylene oxide.
Professor Adeyeye noted that research came after the recall of Indomie Instant Noodles Special Chicken Flavour by Malaysia and Taiwan, claiming the noodles allegedlycontain ethylene oxide.
ethylene oxide is a compound capable of causing cancer.
She said: “At the time of my initial press release on the issue, I assured the public that a 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.
According to her, NAFDAC received about one hundred and fourteen (114) samples noodles and the seasonings.
ProfessorAdeyeye added that outcome of the investigation indicated that the Nigerian noodles lack ethylene oxide or its derivative.
Mrs Adeyeye said: “The compound of interest, ethylene oxide, is a colourless, odourless gas that is used to sterilise medical devices and has been implicated as a cancer-causing chemical.”
Professor Adeyeye maintained that other contaminants such as mycotoxins and heavy metals in the samples were as well analysed.
She stressed that the agency did not deliberately delay the analytical activities in the laboratory.
The DG furthered that NAFDAC ordered the supply of certified reference materials (standards), reagents and chemicals from abroad.
