The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria is to begin random sampling of Indomie noodles and its seasoning from production facilities and markets due to increased cancer risk in Malaysia and Taiwan.

Health officials in these countries had detected ethylene oxide, a compound, in Indomie’s “special chicken” flavour noodles. Indomie, an Indonesian company that entered into a partnership with Tolaram Group in Nigeria, is the noodle of choice for many Nigerians.

NAFDAC stated that Indomie noodles have been banned from being imported into Nigeria for many years and is one of the foods on the government prohibition list.

A member of the board of directors at Indofoods, Taufik Wiraatmadja in a statement issued on Friday said the product was completely safe for consumption.

Wiraatmadja said the noodles had received standard certifications and had been produced in compliance with international food safety regulations.

The statement read in part, “Following the media reports in Taiwan on 24th April 2023 regarding the detection of ethylene oxide (“EtO”) in the Ah Lai White Curry Noodles from Malaysia and seasoning of Indomie Special Chicken Flavour, PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk (“ICBP” or the “Company”) as a subsidiary of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk wishes to provide explanation regarding Indomie, as follows.

“All instant noodles produced by ICBP in Indonesia are processed in compliance with the food safety standards from the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and standards set by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (“BPOM RI”). Our instant noodles have received Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI), and are produced in certified production facilities based on international standards.

“ICBP has exported instant noodles to various countries around the world for more than 30 years. The Company continuously ensures that all of its products are in compliance with the applicable food safety regulations and guidelines in Indonesia as well as other countries where ICBP’s instant noodles are marketed.”