How Nigerians reacted to report of cancer-causing substance in Indomie noodles

 

In Nigeria, among noodles marketers, food sellers, and consumers, mixed reactions have been trailing the report of the discovery of ethylene oxide – a cancer-causing substance, in Indomie noodles by Malaysian and Taiwanese authorities.

The discovery made by health authorities in both countries raised concerns over the safety of the food globally and in Nigeria, where noodles are a beloved snack and quick-to-fix meal for millions of people.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is one of the largest consumers of instant noodles. The country also occupies the 11th position in the global demand for noodles, with Indomie instant noodles being the most consumed brand in Nigeria.

Apart from Indomie noodles, there are more than 12 other brands of noodles competing for market share. These include Chikki, Mimee, Honeywell, Golden Penny, and Dangote.

Others are Sun Yum, Tummy Tummy, Uno, Cherie, Star, Mc Chew, Niccus, Smoodles, and Chefmie. But according to a report by a marketing newspaper – Marketing Edge, Indomie, which arrived in Nigeria about 30 years ago, controls about 70 per cent of the nation’s market value. 

Meanwhile, since the news about ethylene oxide broke, assurances of safety by both Dufil Prima Foods Limited, makers of Indomie Noodles, and Nigeria’s food safety agency – National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) – have not completely cleared the doubt many consumers have. But there are countless others who the scary news cannot stop from consuming their favourite 

noodles.

 

Low patronage

Jafar Sani, a store owner in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, reported that the patronage of Indomie instant noodles had dropped significantly since the news broke.

According to Mr Sani, he has not sold the few cartons of noodles he stocked over a month ago. He refused to purchase more from distributors as he was yet to sell the ones he has.

 

At the popular Utako market, Abuja, a business owner who identified himself simply as Nnamdi, said there was a drop in demand for the Indomie brand.

He wondered why people are still apprehensive about purchasing Indomie after NAFDAC’s assurances that noodles are safe for consumption.

 

NAFDAC could neither confirm nor deny the existence of the poisonous substance in the noodles on sale in Nigeria. The agency’s Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, while appearing on a popular show – Your View on Television Continental (TVC) – said the regulatory body did not check for ethylene oxide before granting licences to noodles-producing companies in the country.  

Meanwhile, since the news hit the airwaves, while some business owners dealing in noodles reported a drastic drop in sales, some food sellers and consumers said the news has not affected their businesses or stopped them from consuming noodles. For them, the love for noodles remains unwavering.