According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), reports that it had banned Indomie Instant Noodles were false.
In response to widespread rumors, the agency assured consumers that the product was safe for consumption.
This followed claims by health officials in Malaysia and Taiwan that the product contained ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic substance responsible for lymphoid and breast cancer.
As a result, Indofoods, the manufacturers of the product, were subjected to a series of investigations.
The Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH) directed that a test be conducted on the Indomie Special Chicken Flavour instant noodles products before their release at all entry points into the country.
Despite these preemptive measures, the Director-General of the health agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, urged consumers not to be overly concerned.
Adeyeye pointed out that Indomie had been on the government's prohibition list for many years to encourage local manufacturing, and that NAFDAC had registered several local manufacturers whose Indomie noodles had been found to be safe.
Moreover, she stressed that the Taiwan and Malaysia noodles had nothing to do with the locally produced ones.
Nevertheless, Adeyeye maintained that NAFDAC would proceed with its planned random sampling of Indomie noodles, including the seasoning, from the production facilities to ensure their safety.
