Food Safety: Indomie Noodles on The Spot

Kenyans are on high alert after the Comesa Competition Commission (CCC) cautioned consumers against eating three Indomie Noodles brands.

Indomie Noodles are widely distributed in Kenya. They are available in retail outlets including local shops and supermarkets, and are marketed as affordable, healthy and convenient meals.

The Indomie Noodles chilli, chicken and vegetable brands are on the spot. Egypt’s Food and Safety Authority (FSA) found that the packets contained aflatoxins and pesticide residues in quantities that exceeded safe limits.

At least 733,340 cartons of different Indomie flavours have been withdrawn from the Egyptian market.

Following the FSA assesment, the CCC noted that the products were imported into a number of countries in the COMESA trade bloc including Kenya. It sought to caution consumers.

The FSA notably stated that besides the three brands, the rest were fit for human consumption.

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“The Commission through its market observatory has established that some of the recalled Indomie products are imported and marketed in other member states of the common market. The commission would like to therefore alert the general public of the risks in consuming above Indomie instant noodles as established by the FSA and to exercise caution in the consumption of the same,” the CCC noted.

The situation has sparked renewed concern on food safety in the region. It comes weeks after Kinder Joy chocolate products were pulled off the shelves in various European markets fueling concern in Kenya where the products are popular with young consumers.

They had been linked to several reported cases of salmonella infections, although none were reported in Comesa markets including Kenya.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards gave a greenlight on the safety of the  Kinder Joy products sold locally.

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