KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s health ministry on Tuesday (May 9) declared that the two types of instant noodles that had previously been recalled in the country after health authorities in Taiwan detected a type of carcinogen in the products are safe for consumption.
In a statement, the country’s health director-general Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said that the two products – “Penang Ah Lai White Curry Noodles” and “Indomie Special Chicken Flavour Instant Noodles” – complied with Malaysia’s regulations.
“Based on the laboratory analysis that has been carried out on (the) samples, … the Ministry of Health confirms that the products comply with the prescribed legislation and are safe to eat,” he said.
According to Dr Radzi, the health ministry implements six levels of inspection on imported food products at the country’s entry points based on risks. Products that do not comply with the regulations set are withdrawn from the market, he added.
“For Level 5 inspection which is Hold, Test and Release (TUL), food products entering the country will be held and analysed first.
“Only food products that comply with the standard are released for the Malaysian market,” he said.
He noted that from 2022 to April 2023, 37 out of 317 samples analysed under TUL were instant noodle products from various brands that were tested for ethylene oxide parameters.
On Apr 26, Dr Radzi said that the health ministry ordered a recall on “Penang Ah Lai White Curry Noodles” and “Indomie Special Chicken Flavour Instant Noodles”.
The recall came after Taipei’s Department of Health reportedly said on Apr 24 that a batch of “Ah Lai White Curry Noodles” and a batch of “Indomie: Special Chicken Flavour” noodles both contained ethylene oxide.
The findings were part of the city’s 2023 inspection of instant noodles available in Taipei.