Food provides both the energy and the nutrients needed for our growth and maintenance of our body.  For our body to function properly, it requires six known nutrients which includes carbohydrates, protein, lipids (fats, oils and cholesterol), vitamins, minerals and water. We obtain our energy from mostly carbohydrates, proteins and most lipids (fats, oils and cholesterol).

There are 3 categories of a person’s nutritional status: Desirable nutritional status, Under nutrition and Over nutrition. Malnutrition refers to the last two.  

What we eat in many cases is determined by the appearance/taste of the food, early influences at home, economics/social status, adverts and nutritional value.

A balanced diet means not over consuming any single type of food daily. We must therefore select foods that can give us carbohydrates, protein, lipids, minerals, vitamins and water while at the same time limiting sodium intake to 1,500- 2,300 mg per day, the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt.

Instant noodle is now very popular in Nigeria though mostly consumed by children, youth and young mothers. The demand for instant noodles has been at high level ever since it was first launched over 27 years ago in Nigeria, its sales has consistently expanded through time. According to the World Instant Noodles Association, Nigeria was the 13th largest consumer of instant noodle in the world in 2007.

Instant noodles are precooked and usually in dried noodle block, sold with flavoring powder and/or seasoning oil and in separate packets; though in the case of cup noodles the flavoring is often loose in the cup. Dried noodle blocks are cooked or soaked in boiling water; some instant noodle products are seal packed.

The question in most Nigerian minds is the health benefits of this product; most people often criticize these products as junk food. But a single serving of instant noodles can play a big role in your life, depending on your method of preparation, as it is rich in carbohydrates, fat, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.However the addition of fresh chopped vegetables such as fresh carrots, green peas, onions, fresh cabbage and/ healthy lean meat, fish or egg to the finished noodle soup enhances the nutritional value of the food.


A brand of instant noodles that stands out in the Nigerian market is Mimee, a product of May and Baker.
Mimee is an instant noodle and ready to cook cake for easy consumption. It is presented in wavy cake block with seasoning insert.
Another important fact about Mimee noodles is the minimal level of Monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in the product. Monosodium glutamate can replace other sodium-heavy seasonings in food. MSG has one-third the amount of sodium that table salt does. Cooks who use this additive to flavor dishes can decrease the amount of table salt they use by up to 40 percent—and the dish will still taste good, this helps to prevent heart disease and high blood pressure.
Mimee noodles is produced from vitamin A fortified wheat flour which helps to fight vitamin A deficiency in children

The brand was introduced into Nigerian Market in 2007 as Onion and Chicken variants. Hot and Spicy was later introduced to meet the needs of vegetarians. It presently comes in five (05) sku’s which are 70g, 80g, 120g * 40,120g * 20 and Boompa (420g).

By 2008, Crunch Mee was introduced as the first snack noodle in Nigeria with the following flavors
        – Chicken
        – Barbeque

However, due to consumer preference of the snack flavor, Crunch Mee was rolled back and re-launched with
       – strawberry flavor
       – Vanilla flavor


By 2010 in a bid to increase competitiveness, Mimee 110g extra-large came into the market. This was immediately followed by the launch of 120g * 20 in the year 2012.
There are plans to introduce other pack sizes and line extension into the market.

Mimee, with is Afro-oriental taste, is presented in noodle wavering cake block with seasoning insert; the noodle strand stands out and with good waviness even after cooking. It has a great yield after cooking with a characteristics chicken flavour that has savoury taste and not salty.
Generally, shapes of the Noodle block are rectangle and square but basically determined by the frying cup. 

As said earlier Mimee flavour variants are – Chicken, Spicy Chicken and Onion. It is packed as 70g * 40, 120g * 40,120g * 20,80g * 40 and 420g (Boompa). That is not all:
  Mimee is garnished with onion leaves and has the odour of wheat and fried oil.
  It has a characteristic chicken flavour but the taste is not salty and a good waviness after cooking.
  Mimee can be cooked in 2 minutes and have a very good springiness after cooking and retain water and its firmness on cooling


  Mimee noodle has an average cooking yield of 137.14%.
  The ingredients of Mimee noodles are wheat flour, RBD oil, iodized salt, Sodium Polyphosphate, Sodium Carbonate, Potassium Carbonate, Guargum, and Atrazine CL 19140.  The seasoning powder contains Iodized salt, Monosodium Glutamate (621), sugar, Garlic powder, Hydrolysed vegetable protein, Dry Leek, Onion Powder, Chicken flavour, spices.


According to the manufacturers, May and Baker, Mimee has the following unique attributes which puts it head and shoulders above other instant noodles:
  Hygienic and convenient pack presentation.
  From the home of May & Baker Plc known for their quality pharmaceutical products
  Produced to International quality standards (ISO Certified)
  Produced with vitamin A fortified wheat flour.
  Very good springiness after cooking, retains water and its firm on cooling
  Great yield after cooking.
  Contains invisible green (Onion leaf vegetables) fortified for wholesome nutrition.
  Minimal level of mono sodium glutamate.

May & Baker Plc, manufacturers of Mimee Noodles is the first and oldest pharmaceutical company in Nigeria currently under the Management leadership of Mr. Nnamdi Okafor.

The company is a growing conglomerate with three major business units; Pharma, Foods and Beverages.

The Foods division, which the delicious Mimee brand belongs to is headed by the GM Foods, Mr. Valentine Okelu, who  has successfully stirred the affairs of the division for the past couple of years.

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