Egyptian Teen Dies After Eating Three Packs of Instant Noodles

Arab media reported that Hamza, a 13-year-old boy from Cairo, died after eating instant noodles at his home. Initial accounts claimed he consumed three packets of Indomie noodles, a popular Indonesian brand widely sold across Egypt, before collapsing.

According to reports from Sky News Arabia and other outlets, Cairo’s Al-Marg police received notice of the boy’s sudden death. Investigators said there were no visible injuries, and family members confirmed Hamza had eaten noodles shortly before his condition deteriorated.

He quickly developed severe abdominal pain, vomiting, heavy sweating, and fatigue. His father later told Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm that Hamza had prayed at the mosque, attended a Qur’an class, and returned home for his favorite meal. Within half an hour, he collapsed.

Doctors suspected poisoning and advised the family to transfer him to a toxicology center, but on the way, his heart stopped. Resuscitation attempts failed, and he was pronounced dead on August 16.

Authorities ordered the arrest of the shopkeeper who sold the product to the boy and collected samples from the noodles for laboratory testing. Hamza’s body was also sent for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. His family said no traces of drugs or illegal substances were found in his system.

“This is a tragedy and a wake-up call for families to protect their children,” his father said, urging Egyptian officials to examine the safety of widely consumed products like instant noodles.

The case has ignited heated debate on Arab social media. Some users demanded stricter oversight of processed foods, claiming certain brands contain harmful additives, while others insisted that Indomie is a regulated and safe product when consumed normally.

Instant noodles are immensely popular in Egypt, especially among children and teenagers, due to their low cost and ease of preparation. Yet nutrition experts have long warned about their high sodium content and preservatives, which, when consumed excessively, may lead to digestive issues, allergies, or even damage to the liver and kidneys.

This is not the first reported case. In December 2023, a young girl in Iraq’s Kirkuk province also died after allegedly suffering food poisoning linked to Indomie noodles.

Hamza’s death has now renewed calls for a comprehensive investigation into the safety of fast-food products marketed to youth across the region.