Indofood, the company behind the popular instant noodle brand Indomie, is facing a product recall in Malaysia and Taiwan due to concerns over increased cancer risk. Health officials in both countries detected ethylene oxide, a compound associated with cancer, in the “special chicken” flavor of Indomie noodles.
The Ministry of Health in Malaysia found ethylene oxide in 11 out of 36 samples of instant noodles from different brands since 2022. The department of health in Taipei also detected ethylene oxide in two types of instant noodles, including Indomie’s chicken flavor, during random inspections.
Reacting to the allegations, a member of Indofood’s board of directors defended the safety of the noodles, stating that they have received standard certifications and have been produced in compliance with international food safety regulations. The company emphasized that all instant noodles produced by them in Indonesia are processed in compliance with food safety standards and have received Indonesian National Standard Certification.
They added that their instant noodles are safe for consumption, in accordance with the statement released by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control.
It remains unclear if other brands were implicated in the recall. Nigeria, where Indomie is a popular brand, is one of the highest consumers of the instant noodles.