Nigeria launches probe into popular noodles brand

Nigeria's food and drug control agency (Nafdac) has begun an investigation into an alleged presence of a substance associated with high cancer risk in popular brands of noodles.

The agency said in a statement it was conducting “random sampling and analysis of Indomie noodles, including the seasoning, for the presence of ethylene oxide", BBC.com reports.

The probe comes after a recall of the “special chicken flavour” noodle brands last week in Malaysia and Taiwan after the substance was detected in some samples.

Indofoods, the Indonesian food giant that makes Indomie, has however since defended the safety of its products.

BBC.com report adds that the Nigerian agency said that the implicated brand was not registered for sale in Nigeria, noting that the port authorities were on alert not to allow its importation.

"We assure the public that thorough investigation of the products will be conducted both at the factory and market levels and our findings will be communicated," it said.

Nafdac says it will also extend the investigation to other brands of instant noodles in the Nigerian market.

YNA