Brunei Confirms Indomie Noodles Safe

KOMPAS.com - INDOMIE instant noodles are safe to eat, the manager of Brunei's Indomie distributor said yesterday in reaction to Taiwan media reports that the Indonesian noodle products allegedly contained "banned" preservatives that cause vomiting.

Hong Kong's The Standard news website reported yesterday that Taiwan authorities had announced the recall of the noodles on Friday, after two "forbidden" preservatives, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E218) and benzoic acid, were found in Indomie products. Indomie instant noodle products are widely distributed in Asia including in Brunei.

"The preservatives are only allowed in cosmetics," the report said.

These preservatives have been banned for use in food in Taiwan, Canada and Europe, the news website said.

"If consumed, the preservatives can cause vomiting," the report said. "Furthermore, if they are taken for long periods or in substantial amounts, they may cause metabolic acidosis a condition due to too much acid."

The Hong Kong report added that two leading supermarkets, ParknShop and Wellsome, have removed all Indomie products from their shelves. Indomie importer, Fok Hing (HK) Trading, said the noodles met the food safety standards of Hong Kong and that of the World Health Organisation. It cited quality examination done in June this year that did not find banned preservatives.

"The Indomie noodles are safe to eat and they entered the Hong Kong market via legal import channels. The poisoned products found in Taiwan are suspected of being imported in illegal ways," the report said.

The Brunei Times contacted the country's distributor for Indomie, Syarikat Aliaa Sdn Bhd, and manager Eddie Lu said consumers here had nothing to worry about.

"Our Indomie products, specifically mee goreng, are imported from Malaysia. As far as I am concerned, there is no issue at the moment. But if there was an issue, the health department will inform us," he said.

He added: "Every year we send our products, such as Indomie, for inspection to the Ministry of Health when we need to renew our licence. They will take samples and do the testing and so far everything is okay," he said, adding that Singapore and Malaysia had no issue with importing Indomie products as well.

Lu said that as the instant noodles have been in the market for 20 years, it was "impossible that out of the blue", there could be problems with the product. He cited a press release issued by PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk (ICBP), Jakarta on October 10, where it said ICBP would "take any action necessary to protect our consumers in this and other countries".