Denmark’s food agency has issued a recall for certain instant noodle products from the popular South Korean brand Samyang Foods, citing concerns that the noodles are so spicy they could cause “acute poisoning”, according to a report by BBC.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration announced on Tuesday that three products from Samyang Foods’ instant ramen line — Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken Stew — were found to have dangerously high levels of capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers.
The agency warned that the capsaicin levels in a single packet of these noodles were high enough to pose a risk of acute poisoning to consumers. It advised those in possession of the recalled products to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Parents were specifically cautioned to prevent children from consuming the noodles and to contact the Poison Line if their children exhibited any acute symptoms after consumption.
Meanwhile, Samyang company said there was no problem with the quality of the food. A spokesperson for Samyang Foods acknowledged the recall and expressed the company’s intent to closely look into local regulations in Denmark before responding. They noted that the noodles had not been recalled in any other country, nor had there been other safety warnings issued.
“We understand that the Danish food authority recalled the products, not because of a problem in their quality but because they were too spicy,” the firm said in a statement to BBC.
Capsaicin is the chemical compound in chili peppers that creates the burning sensation. When humans eat peppers, capsaicin is released into saliva and binds to receptors in the mouth.
Samyang Foods is a major South Korean food manufacturer, branding itself as the first company in the country to create instant noodles back in the 1960s.
Samyang Foods’ products have gained significant popularity worldwide, contributing to a record operating profit of over $110 million in 2023, according to a report by the Guardian.
Despite this recall, the brand continues to enjoy significant popularity, particularly in the US, where its Buldak carbonara ramen went viral on TikTok, leading to reports of shortages, with celebrities like Cardi B sharing their struggles to find the noodles.