Anxiety is mounting across the country following a public alert by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control over the recall of Indomie Noodles, Vegetable Flavour, due to the presence of undeclared allergens.

NAFDAC warned that the affected product contains milk and eggs, allergens that could trigger severe and potentially life-threatening reactions in people with allergies or intolerances.

In a statement titled ‘Public Alert No. 041/2025’, the agency said the recall followed a notification from France’s food safety authority, Rappel Conso, which flagged the product for failing to declare the presence of milk and eggs on its labelling.

According to NAFDAC, the recall covers all batches of Indomie Noodles, Vegetable Flavour, with a best-before date of February 6, 2026.

The agency added that the country of origin was not stated in the recall notice.

“NAFDAC is informing the public that the French authority (Rappel Conso of France) has issued a notice regarding the recall of the Indomie brand Noodles Vegetable Flavour.”

“This recall is due to the presence of undeclared allergens, specifically milk and eggs, which may pose a significant health risk to consumers with allergies or intolerances,” the agency said.

Indomie noodles are widely consumed across Nigeria and other countries, largely due to their affordability, convenience and popularity as a household food item, particularly among children and young adults.

Although the Federal Government has placed a ban on the importation of noodles into Nigeria, NAFDAC said vigilance was necessary to prevent the’possible illegal entry or circulation of the recalled product.

“Although the official risk of these products entering Nigeria is low due to the Federal Government’s ban on noodle importation, there remains a need for heightened vigilance to prevent possible illicit entry or circulation of the implicated Indomie brand,” the agency stated.

The regulatory agency noted that while the official risk of the product entering the country is considered low, acquisition through online purchases or international travel could not be ruled out.

“NAFDAC has commenced vigilance actions to guard against possible entry of the brand into the country, as acquisition of the product through online purchase or international travel cannot be excluded,” it said.

It directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance activities nationwide and to immediately mop up the product if found in any zone or state.

It advised distributors, retailers and consumers to exercise caution across the supply chain and to avoid the distribution, sale or consumption of the recalled foreign Indomie noodles.

“Consumers should discard the product and not consume it. Report any suspicion of the sale of the implicated flavour of Indomie noodles to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 0800-162-3322,” the agency added.

NAFDAC also urged members of the public to report any adverse reactions or side effects linked to the consumption of the product to its offices nationwide, as part of efforts to safeguard public health.

Reacting to the alert, many Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram expressed fears and concerns, questioning how the recalled product could still find its way into the country despite the importation ban.

The growing public reaction underscores broader anxieties about food safety, regulatory enforcement and the protection of vulnerable consumers.

Some users expressed worries about children, who are among the highest consumers of instant noodles, while others called for stricter border surveillance and routine market checks to prevent unsafe food products from circulating.

Others urged NAFDAC to extend its checks to online marketplaces, warning that unregulated digital platforms could become a major channel for the sale of recalled or unsafe food items.

An Instagram user, Veeyoni_Detox, said, “It’s been years now since my husband stopped eating Indomie. I never liked it, but it was my husband’s favourite food. I told him there are too many artificial flavours, which are dangerous to health.”

Another Instagram user, Prince Alli, wrote, “Ban the full Indomie or force them to state that it is carcinogenic on the pack so people know what they eat and can choose if they still want it.”

Responding to speculation that a local manufacturer might be behind the recall, an Instagram user, Hellen Semilore, clarified that the affected product was a specific variant of Indomie.

“The popular and usual Indomie is still very much in the market. This particular variant isn’t even common. Moreover, there are many noodle brands in the market aside from Indomie and Dangote,” she said.

Commenting on X, Oracle Oshare said, “I’ve honestly never come across any Indomie product with Arabic inscriptions. Plus, Indomie doesn’t even have a vegetable flavour, so that alone makes it clear this isn’t from Indomie Nigeria. Go over the NAFDAC memo again.”

Another user, Ebere Angela, said, “If it’s just about people who are allergic to egg and milk, then I see no problem with the noodles. The only issue is that it should be stated boldly that it contains egg and milk, so anyone allergic can avoid it.”

Contrasting the recalled product with Nigerian-made noodles, a public health expert, Dr Bukky Starr, wrote, “Spot the difference: the first frame is the foreign Indomie, which is vegetable flavour, while the second frame is onion chicken, the Nigerian Indomie product. It is the one recommended by NAFDAC and safe for consumption.”

Similarly, a Facebook user, Abdulrazaq Bako, claimed that the banned product might already be in circulation in Nigeria.

“I think even 10 per cent cannot be recalled. It’s supposed to pass all tests before getting to the market,” he said.

Reacting to the recent safety alert issued by NAFDAC, Indomie Nigeria distanced itself from the recalled Indomie Vegetable Flavour noodles flagged in France.

In a statement to Sunday PUNCH, the company said it did not produce, import, distribute or sell any noodle variant known as Vegetable Flavour, describing reports linking Indomie Nigeria to the recall as misleading.

“The product referenced in the NAFDAC alert is not manufactured, imported, distributed, or sold in Nigeria,” the company stated.

Indomie Nigeria stressed that, as clearly stated in NAFDAC’s official release, the affected product was recalled in France in August 2025 and that the alert issued in Nigeria was a precautionary measure to protect public health.

“We do not produce or market any noodle variant called Vegetable Flavour, and no such product exists within Indomie Nigeria’s portfolio,” the company added.

The firm assured consumers that all Indomie noodles produced locally by Dufil Prima Foods meet regulatory and safety requirements.

“All Indomie noodles produced by Dufil Prima Foods in Nigeria are safe for consumption, produced under strict quality control processes and in full compliance with NAFDAC regulations,” it said.

The company also dismissed images of the recalled product circulating online, noting that the packaging did not align with its approved branding and labelling standards.

“The packaging and product display shown in reports circulating online are clearly inconsistent with Indomie Nigeria’s approved packaging, branding, and labelling,” the company said.

It further reminded consumers that the importation of noodles into Nigeria is prohibited by law, urging the public to exercise caution with any product bearing unfamiliar or unapproved packaging. (Sunday PUNCH)

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