Taipei finds carcinogenic substances in Indomie and Penang Ah Lai instant noodle products

Taipei's Department of Health has revealed that two types of popular instant noodles made by Southeast Asian brands have been found to contain a cancer-inducing substance, according to the results of its 2023 inspection of instant noodles in Taipei. 

The department sampled 112 instant noodle products in supermarkets, traditional markets, Southeast Asian food specialty stores, general vending stores or wholesale importers to test the ethylene oxide content in these noodle packets. 

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It found that that one instant noodle product from of Malaysian origin and one instant noodle product from Indonesia were found to not meet the "pesticide residue tolerance standard" as set out by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. These noodles were Ah Lai White Curry Noodles from Malaysia and Indomie: Special Chicken Flavor from Indonesia. These noodles were found to contain ethylene oxide which is a chemical that is typically associated with cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia when consumed or inhaled. The chemical can also irritate the skin and eyes and can trigger birth and hereditary defects.

It was reported that testing showed that ethylene oxide was detected in both the noodles and flavour packet of Ah Lai White Curry Noodles but in only the flavour packet of Indomie: Special Chicken Flavor. 

In its statement, Taipei's health department asked the retailers of the products to pull them off the shelves. Its importers will face a fine between NT$60,000 AND NT$200 million, it said. 

Since then, a spokesperson for Ah Lai White Curry Noodles has said that they have sent samples of their products to be tested by a lab based on the claims, according to The Star. It noted that prior to Taipei's findings, it has never had a problem or been accused of these claims since it started in 2014.

The brand noted that Taipei's health department has not shown them the results of the samples they used but that they suspect it is not their instant noodles. 

It added that when it reached out to the department of health, the expiry date of the noodles did not tally with the ones sent to Taiwan in 2022. 

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to both brands for a statement. 

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