After weeks of investigation, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)has declared that there are no foreign noodles in Nigeria.
It said locally made noodles are safe for consumption.
NAFDAC had in the past few weeks investigated the alleged presence of ethylene oxide or its metabolite in noodles or their seasonings, following the recall of Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ by the Ministries of Health in Malaysia and Taiwan on account of the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound associated with an increased risk of cancer.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, at a press briefing yesterday in Lagos, disclosed that, she swiftly ordered the director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to carry out investigation and random sampling of Indomie instant noodles (and the seasonings) from the production facilities and extend the investigation to other brands of instant noodles offered for sale to Nigerians.
“The Post Marketing Surveillance Division also visited markets/retail outlets in the major cities of Lagos, Abuja, and Kano and drew samples of instant noodles for laboratory analysis. The market visits served as surveillance for the presence of the Taiwan and Malaysian special chicken noodles in the Nigerian market.
‘’The samples drawn from production facilities and trade were properly packaged and delivered in good condition to our Central Laboratory, Oshodi, Lagos, where analytical activities commenced immediately in accordance with international standards and methods of analysis. The technique using Gas Chromatography with a Mass Spectrometry detector was deployed.
According to the DG, a total of 114 samples (Factories, 58; Markets in Lagos, 24; Abuja 16 and Kano 16) of instant noodles (and the seasonings) were analyzed, adding that the compound of interest is ethylene oxide, which is a colourless, odourless gas that is used to sterilize medical devices and has been implicated as a cancer-causing chemical.
Findings of the investigation showed that Ethylene oxide or its derivative was not found in any of the instant noodles produced in Nigeria and their seasonings, “The level of Mycotoxin and the heavy metals were within the internationally acceptable limit .Therefore, the noodles made in Nigeria are very safe to eat,” she stated.
