Posted on: Fri 23-06-2023

Two months after, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has released results of inquiry into presence of ethylene oxide or its metabolite in noodles and/or their seasonings, saying the harmful substance or its derivative was not found in any of the above items produced in Nigeria.   

The Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, yesterday, at a press briefing in Lagos, said: “The level of Mycotoxin and heavy metals was within the internationally acceptable limit. Therefore, the noodles made in Nigeria are very safe to eat. 

“At the time of my initial press release on the issue, I assured the public that thorough investigation of the products would be conducted both at the factory and market levels, and that our findings would be communicated.”   

The probe was occasioned by the recalls 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 cancer risk. 

Adeyeye said as soon as NAFDAC spilled the news, it immediately requested the Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to investigate and effect random sampling of Indomie instant noodles (and the seasonings) from the production facilities and extend the inquiry to other brands offered for sale to Nigerians.

This, she said, is despite the fact that imported noodles are not expected to be sold in the country because the regulator does not register imported noodles due to import prohibition by the Nigerian government many years ago to foster local production. 

The pharmacist explained that samples of chicken flavoured instant noodles of various brands (and their seasonings) were drawn from production facilities nationwide. The move, she observed, was to ensure that the investigation is robust and all encompassing.

Adeyeye said the Post Marketing Surveillance Division also visited markets and retail outlets in the major cities of Lagos, Abuja and Kano and drew samples of instant noodles for laboratory analysis.  

The NAFDAC boss also alerted to circulation of expired G-Man energy drink, faking of popular antibiotics and malaria drugs and the revalidation of expiry dates of unregistered expired animals feed premix and sealed warehouse with goods worth N1.9 billion in Abuja.   

She said a case of importation, distribution and sale of unregistered and expired G-Man organic energy drink was investigated by the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in Asaba, Delta State.

Adeyeye added that one Mr. Okeke Udeze Francis of No 28 Otigba Crescent, GRA Onitsha, Anambra State, was arrested with expired G-Man energy drink in the commercial city and further investigation led to a warehouse in Aba, Abia State, where evidence of revalidation of the expiry date of the beverage was established.

Adeyeye said extended revealed that the violative drink was manufactured in Germany and imported into Nigeria when some of the products had either expired or about to.

The NAFDAC chief executive said intelligence tracking of a suspected importer of fake Basslox capsules (ampicillin 250mg + cloxacillin250mg) led to arrest of an infamous counterfeit medicines and narcotics drugs importer and distributor, Mr. Emmanuel Obidike.

Adeyeye said painstaking surveillance and investigation of the case resulted in the arrest of one Mr. Anayo Okoye, “who eventually led us to Mr. Emmanuel Obidike, who is a notorious importer of counterfeit medicines.”

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