Denmark Recalls South Korean Instant Ramen Due to Dangerously High Spice Levels
Denmark’s food agency has issued a recall for South Korean instant ramen from the popular brand Samyang, warning that the noodles are so spicy they could cause “acute poisoning.”
Three Samyang Foods products—Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken Stew—were found to contain dangerously high levels of capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, according to a statement from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration on Tuesday. These varieties are being withdrawn from sale in Denmark and can also be found in some British shops.
The agency warned that the capsaicin level in a single packet of these noodles is “so high that they pose a risk of the consumer developing acute poisoning.” They advised consumers to discard the products or return them to the store of purchase and urged parents to contact the poison control hotline if their children show “acute symptoms.”
Samyang Foods, whose products are globally popular, with a record operating profit of over $110 million in 2023, stated that this is the first time their products have been recalled for being too spicy. The company vowed to better understand local regulations in export markets.
“This is the first time our products have been recalled for this reason,” a spokesman for Samyang Foods said.
Samyang Foods’ stock price has surged by 70% recently after their Buldak Carbonara ramen went viral on TikTok, becoming so popular in the United States that there have been reports of shortages.
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