KUCHING, April 26: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has ordered a voluntary recall of ‘Ah Lai White Curry Noodles’ and ‘Indomie: Special Chicken Flavour’ noodles following findings by Taiwanese authorities that the products contained cancer-inducing substances.
This came following a statement by the Taipei City Department of Health which reported that it had found that a batch of Ah Lai White Curry Noodles from Malaysia and a batch of Indomie: Special Chicken Flavour noodles from Indonesia both contained ethylene oxide, a chemical compound that is carcinogenic and used to kill pests such as insects.
It is also used as an active ingredient in detergents but is not allowed to be used on surfaces that come into contact with food.
In a statement today, Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the manufacturer of “Ah Lai White Curry Noodles” had complied with local health standards but had issued the recall order for batches that expire on Aug 25 from the local market to ensure food safety.
“Based on the data reviewed from the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia, MOH also confirmed that there was an entry of ‘Indomie: Special Chicken Flavour’ produced in Indonesia into the country.
“In this case, MOH has issued a Hold, Test and Release order for the products at all entry points to the country. The company has also been instructed to voluntarily recall the product from the market, while tests will be conducted on the new batches entering the country,” he said.
Following the recall of Mi Sedaap, also produced by Indonesia which was found to contain ethylene oxide in 2022, Dr Muhammad Radzi said that MOH through the Food Safety and Quality Division has carried out continuous monitoring on related food products sold in the local market as well as imported ones.
Since 2022 up till now, he said, monitoring of 36 samples of instant noodles under different brands in the market led to the discovery that 11 samples of Mi Sedaap contained ethylene oxide and enforcement action had been initiated.
Dr Muhammad Radzi said that MOH is always concerned of issues that could endanger consumers’ health and urged people not to consume or purchase the products involved.
As per information provided on the website of the Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau under the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration, ethylene oxide is poisonous when ingested or inhaled.
Aside from leading to lymphoma and leukemia, this chemical can cause severe skin and eye irritation for those who come into contact with it, and can even trigger birth and hereditary defects. — DayakDaily
