By Bavoriat Clara
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked a viral audio recording circulating on social media, which falsely claims that the Agency shut down the Tummy Tummy noodles manufacturing facility in Anambra State and imposed a ban on tinned tomatoes and Maggi seasoning cubes.
In a statement released by the Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the Agency categorically dissociated itself from the contents of the audio and described the claims as baseless, misleading, and entirely false.
Professor Adeyeye clarified that the same audio had resurfaced from October 2023 and was thoroughly investigated. She confirmed that the Tummy Tummy noodles factory was never sealed.
According to her, a NAFDAC inspection team had paid an unscheduled visit to the facility, collected samples of four different noodle variants, and submitted them to the Agulu Laboratory for evaluation. The results, she noted, were satisfactory with no safety infractions recorded.
She further revealed that the individual behind the audio falsely claimed to be acting in collaboration with NAFDAC and alleged the presence of “acetyl methyl” as a preservative in the noodles. The Agency found no such substance in the products and reiterated that the company was not in violation of any regulatory or safety standards.
Following earlier concerns raised in 2023 about the possible presence of ethylene oxide in instant noodles, Professor Adeyeye explained that NAFDAC had conducted a nationwide investigation at both factory and market levels. The findings confirmed that ethylene oxide or its derivative was not found in any locally produced instant noodles or seasoning products.
Additionally, mycotoxin levels and heavy metals were within internationally acceptable limits, further confirming the safety of Nigerian-made noodles.
She also affirmed that there is no ban on tinned tomatoes or Maggi seasoning cubes in Nigeria and urged members of the public to disregard the misleading audio and refrain from spreading unverified information.
Professor Adeyeye assured that NAFDAC remains fully committed to its mandate of protecting public health by ensuring that only safe, high-quality, and properly regulated food and drug products are made available to Nigerians.
admin