The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) has praised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for its prompt action on the imported Indomie ‘special chicken flavour’ noodles.
NICRAT, in a statement issued by Usman Aliyu, its director-general/CEO NICRAT, lauded NAFDAC’s ongoing investigations and analysis on Indomie instant noodles in Nigeria.
This followed the news of the recall of Indomie instant noodles (special chicken flavour) by the Taiwan and Malaysian authorities on the alleged presence of “ethylene oxide”, a compound associated with increased cancer risk.
“NICRAT is deeply worried that, if found that some brands of Indomie noodles contain ethylene oxide, then, Nigerians should expect an escalation of various forms of cancers in the months or years ahead, depending on how long people have consumed that brand.
“More worrisome is that Nigerians should also expect an increase in cancer cases among children because Indomie noodles is a popular food among most Nigerian children.
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“Our in-depth review of ethylene oxide indicates that it is a highly reactive chemical that is used as a raw material to make other compounds such as glycol ethers and polyglycerol ethers, as well as a range of emulsifiers, detergents, and solvents.
“Ethylene oxide is also widely used as a fumigant for cleaning culinary goods, including spices,” he said, just as he expressed concern about the increasing number of lives being lost to cancer.
In 2020 alone, he said, 78,000 Nigerians died as a result of cancer-related complications (34,200 males and 44,699 females). He, therefore, advised Nigerians to obey NAFDAC’s instructions on the ban and consumption of Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’.
NAFDAC began random sample tests of the noodles and other brands on Tuesday and reaffirmed the ban on the importation of Indomie noodles into the country.
NAFDAC’s food safety and applied nutrition directorate is to randomly sample Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) from the production facilities while the post-marketing surveillance directorate will sample the market. NAN
