The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Sunday clarified that the recalled Indomie Noodles Vegetable Flavour recently flagged by French authorities was not registered for sale in Nigeria and unlikely to be found in the country.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, recalled that Rappel Conso, the French centralized hub for disseminating information about product recalls, ensuring consumer safety and well-being, had alerted consumers about the product about the presence of undeclared allergens, specifically milk and eggs, which could pose health risks to consumers with allergies or intolerances.
She explained that following the alert, the NAFDAC had intensified surveillance nationwide to prevent the possible entry of the affected product into Nigeria.
Specifically, the Director-General disclosed that zonal directors and state coordinators of the agency had been told and directed to seize the product if found within their jurisdictions just as the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Inspection Directorate had also intensified monitoring at entry points.
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Adeyeye further clarified: “The public is hereby informed that the Indomie Noodles Vegetable Flavour in question is not registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for sale in Nigeria. It is important to note that noodles are listed on the Import Prohibition List of the Federal Government of Nigeria, meaning their importation into the country is not allowed. This significantly reduces the likelihood of the affected product entering the Nigerian market.
“Further, the Indomie instant noodles products (and other brands of noodles) registered by NAFDAC for sale in the Nigerian market are manufactured locally in Nigeria and are only granted NAFDAC registration status following a strict regulatory regime covering all aspects of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The Ports Inspection Directorate (PID) is also on heightened alert to guard against the importation of the implicated product into Nigeria.
“Consumers are strongly advised to exercise caution, discard the recalled product if found, and report any suspicion of its sale or distribution to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 0800-162-3322. Adverse events or side effects related to consumption should be reported via NAFDAC’s E-reporting platforms available on www.nafdac.gov.ng”, she added.
The Director-General assured the public on the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring the safety of food products available to consumers in the country.
