Rwanda has banned the import of Kenyan-made chicken-flavored Indomie brand noodles, citing health concerns.
The Rwanda Food and Drug Authority has begun an investigation into this food brand, while also ordering importers to stop distributing it in the nation.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has yet to publish a declaration on the safety of Indomie, which has not been recalled.
KEBS announced last week that it was looking into the product’s safety after some were pulled from Egyptian shop shelves a fortnight ago.
“While the inspection continues all distributors and retailers in possession of the above-mentioned products are requested to stop distribution and quarantine all quantities in their stores until the investigation is concluded,” The Times of Rwanda reported on Sunday.
Last month, Egyptian authorities announced the recall of 733,340 cartons of various Indomie product flavors after they were discovered to have “proportions of aflatoxins and pesticide residues that exceed the permissible limits authorized for human consumption.”
Last week, Kebs managing director Bernard Njiraini informed the newsmen that samples of Indomie noodle products supplied in Kenya will be evaluated for safety before a decision was made.
According to the Egyptian Public Authority for Food Safety, the chilli product, as well as the flavors of chicken and vegetables, are safe for human consumption.
Recall, News Central reported last week that the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) warned that similar products as those flagged by Egyptian authorities are being imported and marketed in member States that include Kenya.
The commission revealed that tests carried out on the products by the Food and Safety Authority (FSA) of Egypt came out positive, revealing the presence of aflatoxins and pesticide residues in high quantities beyond safe limits.
After the findings came out positive, the affected indomie products: Indomie chicken flavoured instant noodles, and the indomie vegetable flavoured instant noodles, were recalled from the market by the supplier.