Posted by By Adetutu Audu on
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Admnistration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, has warned Nigerians to shun imported noodles, especially those from Indonesia, which she said are dangerous to the health of the people.
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Admnistration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, has warned Nigerians to shun imported noodles, especially those from Indonesia, which she said are dangerous to the health of the people.
Speaking at the unveiling of Indomie Suya and Pepper Chicken flavour by Dufril Prima Foods Plc, the NAFDAC boss explained that unlike noodles produced in Nigeria which are fortified and tailored to meet local taste, imported noodles are ordinary starch.
The imported noodles, she said, are smuggled into the country by unscrupulous businessman to make brisk money. Smugglers of noodles, Akunyili warned, should desist from the act, as it is unpatriotic to smuggle unfortified imported noodles which can endanger peoples' health.
Indomie Noodles, Akunyili stated, is a complete food that contains carbohydrate, vitamins and micronutrients. The noodles, she said, has been screened to adapt their seasoning to local taste with the same quality as the ones produced all over the world. She commended Dufil Prima Foods for adhering to regulations guiding the production of noodles in the country, while challenging them to expand their market to other neighbouring West African countries because they have been able to label their product in French, English and Arabic.
There had been controversy recently, over the health implication of noodles, especially with the market in Nigeria growing in leaps and bounds. Dr. Paul Ojeih, a Lagos-based comparative medical practitioner of Iris Medical Foundation, Ogba, had raised alarm that noodles are dangerous to health.
Also, a report on www.wikipedia.org, highlighted the controversy concerning dioxin and other hormone-like substances that could theoretically be extracted from the packaging and glues used to pack the instant noodles. According to the report, as hot water is added, it was reasoned that harmful substances could seep into the soup. Another major concern on the health drawback of consuming the instant noodles is that the products can be manufactured with oxidized fat and oils if the process is not better managed.
Oxidized fat and oils are health hazard substances which induce neurotoxins and which make neurocells hypoactive. Instant noodles are currently taking over the markets. They are wholesome meal served with speed because they are convenient and faster to cook. Noodles originated from Thailand, but have become a popular food in many parts of the world, though they have undergone changes in flavour to suit local tastes.
The Nigerian market has become competitive following the introduction of different brands, and consumers have become confused over which one to choose.
De-United Foods Limited, the first entrant into the noodles market with its Indomie brand, apart from the intial flavours-Chicken, Onion chicken and Spice chicken, has continued to improve on the brand, introducing new products like Indomie Jollof , Chicken pepper soup, Indomie Chicken 120 grammes and the latest entrant, Indomie Suya and Pepper Chicken flavour to meet the ever increasing consumers' needs.
Unlike the intial flavours targeted at kids, Indomie Chicken Peppersoup is designed to meet culinary needs of adults between the ages of 20 and 45 years. Another player in the industry, whose product, Sum Yum, has been enjoying huge patronage, is Dana Group. The noodles' four variants-classic, chicken, onion and jollof- have been enjoying different promotional strategies to gain market's share.
According to Mr Harish Asnani, Marketing Manager, Dana Group, all the variants takes care of the needs of vegetarians. Honeywell Superfine Foods, makers of O! Noodles, also have chicken, curry chicken and onion; Chikki Foods, makers of Chikki instant noodles; Pharmaceuticaul giant, May & Baker, also diversified into the noodles world with Mimee, and lately, launched noodles snack, Crunch Mee.
The latest entrant, Uno Foods Limited, makers of Uno noodles, has also introduced different flavours of the brand like seafood, beef , Flat, Chicken, Hot chilli beef in larger gramme than the initial ones in the markets, and of recent, unveiled Cup Noodles.