The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is alive to its responsibility of safeguarding the public’s health despite its recent caution on Indomie Noodles.

NAFDAC director-general, Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the assurance in a statement on Tuesday by the agencyOlusayo Akintola.

The assurance followed the news of the recall of Indomie instant noodles (special chicken flavour) by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities on the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound associated with increased cancer risk.

Mr Adeyeye said NAFDAC as a responsible and responsive regulator, is taking swift actions to carry out random sampling and analysis of Indomie noodles (including the seasoning) for the presence of ethylene oxide.

She said the investigation would be extended to other brands of instant noodles offered for sale in the Nigerian market to detect whether such carcinogenic compounds are present.

“We use this medium to assure the public that a thorough investigation of the products will be conducted both at the factory and market levels and our findings will be communicated. The public is also hereby informed that the implicated Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ is not registered by NAFDAC for sale in Nigeria,” the NAFDAC statement said.

It added, “It is important to mention that noodles are on the Import Prohibition List of the Federal Government of Nigeria and are therefore not permitted for importation to Nigeria. Further, the Indomie instant noodles products (and other brands of noodles) registered by NAFDAC for sale in the Nigerian market are manufactured in Nigeria and are only granted NAFDAC registration status.”

It noted that a strict regulatory regime covering all aspects of “Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) are placed on all these products” manufactured in Nigeria.

NAFDAC also mentioned that the ports inspection directorate “is also on heightened alert to guard” against importing the implicated product into Nigeria.

(NAN)