by Patience Ivie Ihejirika
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated that importation of Indomie noodles is banned in Nigeria.
Director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who made this known in a statement on Monday, said the product is one of the foods on the government prohibition list.
She said the noodle is not allowed in the country, and therefore not registered by the agency, adding that NAFDAC only approved circulation of indomie noodles produced in Nigeria and not imported.
“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,” she explained.
Meanwhile, in response to the news of recalled Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities, the DG said NAFDAC has started investigating and responding immediately. z
“Tomorrow, May 2,2023 , NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate will randomly sample Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) from the production facilities while 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,” she stated.
Adeyeye described the action as extra caution to ensure that the product is not smuggled ingo the country.
“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 (FSAN) and Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) are doing this week at the production facilities and in the market, respectively. Thank you. The public will be duly updated with the outcomes of the investigation,” she added.