Wings Group denies pesticides detected in Mie Sedaap noodles amidst recall

Mie Sedaap instant noodles, a brand under Wings Group Indonesia, has come under the spotlight after news reports said that the product was found to contain ethylene oxide pesticides. This has also led to Singapore Food Agency recalling two Mie Sedaap products, as well as in countries including Hong Kong and Taiwan. The brand, however, denied that pesticides were detected in the instant noodles, according to CNN Indonesia.

Quoting the head of communications and CSR for Wings Group, Sheila Kansil, CNN said the Mie Sedaap products do not contain ethylene oxide and that Mie Sedaap passes all of the food safety standards. Kansil added that the noodles are safe for consumption and that the food safety standards it has passed comprised of permits from the Food & Drug Supervisory Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, among others. The group has also claimed that the ethylene oxide found in food products from other categories were manufactured by various companies located in the Philippines, India, South Korea, China, and Japan, CNN added.

Nonetheless, Wings Group is conducting an investigation into the matter alongside the domestic authorities and the countries concerned, Tempo said, also quoting Kansil. The move was carried out to ensure the quality of Mie Sedaap products and to retain consumer confidence. MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Wings Group for comment.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) initially only recalled two Mie Sedaap products – Mie Sedaap Korean Spicy Soup instant noodles and Korean Spicy Chicken instant noodles. However, it later extended the recall to two additional Mie Sedaap products – Mie Sedaap Curry flavour instant noodles and Mie Sedaap Soto Flavour instant noodles – due to the presence of ethylene oxide. According to SFA, ethylene oxide is a pesticide and is unauthorised to be used in food.

SFA has also directed Mie Sedaap's Singapore distributor Arklife Distributors while the agency continues its regulatory testing of other Mie Sedaap instant noodle products. At the same time, it is working with the importers and Indonesian authorities to investigate and rectify the cause of ethylene oxide contamination. "Should ethylene oxide be detected beyond the stipulated maximum levels, SFA will initiate recalls of the affected products", SFA added.

The agency also urged those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.

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