‘No Ban On Noodles, Tomatoes, Seasoning Cubes,’ NAFDAC Clarifies

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked a widely circulated audio message claiming that it shut down the production of Tummy Tummy noodles and banned the sale of tinned tomatoes and Maggi seasoning cubes in Nigeria.

NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement on Wednesday, described the audio as false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.

Adeyeye urged Nigerians to disregard the contents of the recording which has resurfaced on social media and messaging platforms.

“The Tummy Tummy noodles manufacturing facility in Anambra State was never sealed. An inspection team from NAFDAC conducted an unscheduled visit, collected samples of four noodle variants, and subjected them to rigorous evaluation at the Agulu Laboratory.

“All results were satisfactory, and no regulatory infractions were recorded,” Adeyeye affirmed.

The controversial audio, which first emerged in October 2023 and has recently gained new traction online, falsely alleged that NAFDAC discovered dangerous substances such as acetyl methyl in the noodles.

The person behind the recording also claimed to be working in collaboration with NAFDAC, a claim the agency firmly disowns.

The DG stated that, there is no scientific basis for the claims made in the recording, adding that, “There is no evidence supporting the presence of ‘acetyl methyl’ in the noodles, nor did NAFDAC at any point initiate or recommend a shutdown of the facility.”

In response to broader concerns about food safety in Nigeria, particularly in the aftermath of 2023 global alert over ethylene oxide in some Asian-made instant noodles, NAFDAC said it had launched a nationwide investigation into local noodles production.

The findings confirmed that neither ethylene oxide nor its derivatives were present in Nigerian-made noodles or their seasonings.

The agency further added that mycotoxins and heavy metal levels were within internationally acceptable safety limits.

The DG cleared the air on other products mentioned in the viral audio, stating categorically that there is no ban on tinned tomatoes or Maggi seasoning cubes in Nigeria.

She warned the public to desist from sharing unverified and potentially harmful content that can incite fear and misinformation.

“We remain committed to our mandate of safeguarding public health through the regulation of food and drug products in Nigeria,” Adeyeye added.

The NAFDAC Boss assured consumers that food safety remains a top priority and that rigorous inspections and laboratory testing are continually conducted to ensure that only safe and high-quality products reach the market.