Within the framework of the responsibilities and powers of the National Food Safety Authority to monitor food handling in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 1 of 2017 and its executive regulations, the authority performs many control activities on food handlers and food establishments to ensure that they fulfill the requirements and standards of food safety and the provision of safe food to the consumer. These activities ensure Ensuring the existence of an effective system in food establishments that enables it to track all food products manufactured by these establishments during all stages of the food chain to reach the consumer at the final sales outlets, whether by keeping paper or electronic records for the data of all the products of the establishment and the customers to whom the establishment has supplied its products.
In this context and in light of coordination with the Administrative Control Authority, the Authority would like to clarify some facts about the withdrawal of the Indomie product from the market:
The authority periodically withdraws laboratory tests for various food products by monitoring the safety of those products on the market, including the products of companies approved by the authority as white-listed facilities.
The authority took samples from the markets to analyze the product and determine its safety. After receiving the results of the analyzes, it was found that the quick-prepared noodles were valid for human consumption and that the hot pepper product and the chicken and vegetable flavors were not suitable for human consumption due to the presence of a percentage of aflatoxins and pesticide residues that exceed the safe limits allowed for human consumption.
The Authority immediately notified the company of the need to:
• Withdrawing the product from the food supply chain, not circulating bags of chili and non-conforming flavors, and giving it 48 hours to withdraw the product permanently from the market.
• Suspending dealing with the company producing the pepper until corrective measures are taken to ensure that the product is free of contaminants and pathogens.
• Not to trade in the flavor of chicken and vegetables, the subject of the violation.
• Removing the claim on the company’s product packages regarding the benefits of vitamin B and mineral salts of iron, zinc and calcium.
– The company responded immediately by withdrawing the product from the market and withdrew 733,340 cartons of different flavors. The company is still continuing to withdraw its products that do not comply with food safety requirements so far, as well as offering the instant noodles without the chili bags with the removal of the aforementioned claim on the cartons.
The authority would like to emphasize that this procedure is carried out almost on a daily basis in various developed countries of the world for food products. Food establishments discover the presence of a defect or contaminant in one of their food products in coordination with the regulatory authorities to conduct a voluntary recall and/or recall of the product in order to ensure the health of the consumer and the reputation of the establishment .
The authority also encourages voluntary reporting by companies when they detect any error during circulation, stressing that this procedure proves the extent to which these companies are keen to preserve the health and safety of the consumer and take responsibility in the event of danger or risks in the food they provide, which confirms the credibility before the National Food Safety Authority And in front of consumers.
The authority confirms that it takes its decisions regarding the circulation of food products in the light of accurate scientific evaluation and laboratory results in specialized and accredited laboratories and in accordance with the correct law.
Finally, it calls on the Egyptian consumer and everyone to communicate with the authority and follow up on its data and its official website on the Internet and not to be drawn into rumors that may be malicious or incorrect regarding their doubts or suspicions about the safety of food products, instead of rushing to publish them on social media sites, which may disturb security And public peace, even if in good faith, or it enters the circle of criminalization and requires punishment.