NAFDAC orders nationwide recall of Indomie Vegetable Flavour noodles
All Indomie Vegetable Flavour noodles with a best-before date of February 6, 2026, must be withdrawn from shelves and destroyed.
NIGERIA – Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued an urgent nationwide recall for Indomie Vegetable Flavour instant noodles after a safety alert from French regulators flagged undeclared milk and egg allergens.
The directive mandates a complete mop-up of affected products to protect consumers, particularly those with allergies.
NAFDAC announced the recall over the weekend, emphasizing the risks posed by the unlisted allergens on the packaging.
All batches of the vegetable-flavoured variant with a best-before date of February 6, 2026, are included in the order.
The agency urged retailers, wholesalers, and consumers to immediately withdraw and return the products to points of purchase or the nearest NAFDAC office.
NAFDAC disclosed that surveillance activities have been intensified nationwide, with zonal directors and state coordinators instructed to monitor markets and ensure the recalled product is removed if found.
The agency has also placed its Ports Inspection Directorate on heightened alert to prevent the product from entering the country.
The alert originated from France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), which detected elevated levels of milk protein and egg lysozyme in samples during routine checks.
These substances, common in noodle production for texture and flavour, were not declared on labels imported to Nigeria by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, the local manufacturer of the popular Indomie brand.
Dufil Prima Foods, a subsidiary of the Indonesian-based Indofood Group, dominates Nigeria’s instant noodle market with over 70% share.
The company acknowledged the issue, stating that it has initiated internal investigations and is fully cooperating with NAFDAC.
This incident underscores growing scrutiny on food imports and labelling in Africa’s largest economy.
In 2025 alone, NAFDAC recalled over 20 products, including contaminated beverages and mislabelled snacks.
While recalling a similar international food safety alert involving Indomie Special Chicken Flavour in 2023, NAFDAC noted that investigations at the time confirmed that noodles produced in Nigeria were safe for consumption.
Health experts hail the response as proactive. Dr. Aisha Bello, an allergist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, warned that undeclared allergens are responsible for 30% of food-related emergencies in Nigeria. “Clear labelling saves lives; parents must check packs for children,” she advised.
NAFDAC has encouraged consumers to remain vigilant, discard the recalled product if found, and report any suspected sale or distribution to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its dedicated hotline
The agency will monitor compliance and provide updates on the resolution.
As Indomie rebounds from past controversies, such as lead contamination scares in 2024, this recall spotlights the need for robust supply chain transparency in Nigeria’s competitive noodle industry.
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