Instant noodles off the menu

Instant noodles off the menu

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Recent reports that dozens of people
suffered food poisoning after eating instant noodles have taken
its toll on the giant manufacturer PT Indofood Sukses Makmur.

The company said its province-wide sales tumbled by as much as
50 percent in the past month since the first reports started
coming in.

The company is now rerouting its surplus noodle products to
other nearby provinces, South Sumatra manager Teddy Pranatio
announced, as reported by the Antara news agency.

Five people were killed and dozens of others hospitalized
early this month, reportedly after consuming instant noodles.

Health authorities investigating the case later found that
there was nothing wrong with the noodles and that the source of
the poisoning could have come either from the water or utensils
used to cook them.

Teddy said his company had also carried out its own
investigation, checking on stores which might be selling its
noodle products past their expiration dates or with broken
wrappings.

Indofood plans to launch a campaign at leading stores to
regain public confidence, he said.(arf)