Kenyans have been advised to refrain from consuming indomie following reports of high levels of aflatoxins and pesticide residues in the noodles
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) wants Kenyans to stop buying and consuming imported noodles until the government does a proper verification of the product.
On Wednesday, The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa(COMESA) called on its member states to stop the importation of indomie from the Egyptian market
COMESA’s Competition Commission said the directive was taken after Egypt banned its chicken and vegetables flavored instant noodles as well as instant noodles with chili packs from her market citing that it’s unsafe for human consumption.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Cofek now wants the Kenya Bureau of Standards and other relevant agencies to conduct a thorough verification of the product to determine its toxicity levels .
The federation also wants supermarkets and retailers to voluntarily get the product off the shelf for a couple of weeks as tests are conducted.
“The Commission would like therefore to alert the general public of the risks in consuming above Indomie instant noodles as established by the FSA and to exercise caution on the consumption of the same,” read part of the Cofek statement.
Tests by the Food Safety Authority of Egypt found that Indomie’s chili packets and the chicken and vegetable flavor packets contained aflatoxins and pesticide residues in quantities that exceeded safe limits.