Mohammed Shosanya
Indomie and other noodle brands in Nigeria is safe and healthy for consumption in the country,the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),has said
The agency maintained that its recent investigations revealed that Indomie Noodles implicated in the recalls in Malaysia and Taiwan is not in Nigeria.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, who announced this at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) House, Ikeja, Lagos during the Quarterly Interactive session between the Agency and MAN,implored Nigerians to ensure safe eating habit.
A statement by the NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, quoted the agency’s boss as saying that: ‘’I love to eat good food, including noodles. But I want to be sure that the food I am eating is not going to make me sick, take medicine. And if I am taking medicine the food that I am eating will not make me to add to the medicine that I am taking. Therefore, I take food very, very seriously.
‘Immediately the news of the recalls of Indomie Noodles from Malaysia and Taiwan got to Nigeria she directed the Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs. Eva Edwards, and Director of Laboratory Services (Food), Dr Charles Nwachukwu, respectively to begin tripartite discussions with manufacturers and marketers.
” Samples of the noodles and seasonings (spices), were collected by the Agency for laboratory analysis”.
She reiterated that NAFDAC officials went round and took samples from the market ‘’because there are suitcase importers that may bring such product in without us knowing’’.
She emphasized that the agency did not ban importation of Indomie during the recent Taiwan and Malaysia episode where many people died after consuming Indomie Noodle.
She noted that noodles generally had been banned by the Federal Government many years before she assumed office as DG NAFDAC in order to protect the local manufacturing sector.
The implicated foreign noodles are not in Nigeria, hence, the locally produced noodles are safe for human consumption,she said.
‘’We are improving on what will make our people healthier. Whatever we put into our food will affect us. Whether positively or otherwise’’,she added
She urged Nigerian manufacturers to endeavor to bring quality to bear on their products.
With quality, now comes opportunities to trade globally, she said, noting that Nigeria market is the largest in Africa.
‘’That’s why I urge MAN to take the bull by the horn with the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco sector and Chemical and Pharmaceutical sector to take the lead. We can do it. We can lead Africa in terms of trade. It may take some efforts. But it’s achievable’’,she said,
The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi Quadri, commended the agency’s boss for her leadership acumen which has transformed the NAFDAC in the last five years.
He added: ‘’We are therefore delighted by your reappointment as DG of NAFDAC. I assure you of our implicit confidence in your leadership and support as we work together for the overall development of our economy and the wellbeing of the citizens of this country’’.