The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) has warned that more persons will be diagnosed with cancer in the coming years if ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing substance, is found in noodles produced in Nigeria.

Development Diaries reports that NICRAT made this known after health authorities in Taiwan and Malaysia announced the detection of ethylene oxide in Indomie’s ‘special chicken’ flavour noodles in both countries.

Reacting to this development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said Indomie noodles consumed in Nigeria are locally produced.

The agency’s Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, however, said NAFDAC will commence investigations into all noodles produced in the country to ensure all ingredients used are safe for human consumption.

‘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, as well as extending the investigation to other brands of instant noodles offered for sale to Nigerians’, she said in a statement.

‘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’.

Meanwhile, Indofoods, an Indonesian company and maker of Indomie instant noodles, has rejected the findings of the health authorities in Malaysia and Taiwan, noting that all its noodles are produced with standard certification.

Is NAFDAC falling short?

NAFDAC is tasked with the regulation, control and the manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, chemicals and detergents.

The agency is also mandated to ensure that food facilities adhere to good manufacturing practice (GMP) that can sustain quality food products.

NAFDAC has assured that a ‘thorough investigation of the products will be conducted’. However, Nigerians need reassurance from the agency.

Development Diaries calls on NAFDAC and other standard-checking organisations to adopt proactive measures in the discharge of their duties; and those measures should be public knowledge.

We also urge Nigerians to avoid the spread of misinformation and await the result of the random sampling and analysis of Indomie noodles.