Danish food authorities have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea due to potential risks of “acute poisoning.” Consumers are advised to either discard these products or return them to the retailer.
The noodles, produced by Seoul-based Samyang Foods, one of South Korea’s largest food companies, are sold globally. The recalled products include Buldak Samyang 3 x Spicy & Hot Chicken, Buldak Samyang 2 x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Buldak Samyang Hot Chicken Stew.
According to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, the noodles contain excessively high levels of capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers that can act as a neurotoxin and pose a health hazard. The agency has raised concerns particularly about children and teenagers engaging in social media challenges to consume these extremely spicy noodles.
“The noodle dishes marketed as extremely strong must no longer be sold because consumers, especially children, risk acute poisoning,” the agency stated. “The capsaicin content is so high that it can pose a health hazard.”
Henrik Dammand Nielsen of the Danish Food and Drug Administration emphasized that children, frail adults, and the elderly are particularly at risk. Symptoms of acute poisoning from high capsaicin levels include burning sensations, discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and high blood pressure. Consequently, the agency is demanding that shops remove these products from their shelves.
In response, Samyang Foods stated that the recall in Denmark was not due to product quality issues but rather because local authorities deemed them too spicy and potentially hazardous. The company noted that these noodles are exported worldwide and this is the first instance of a recall. “We will closely study local regulations while responding to this recall measure,” the company said.
Spicy food challenges have long been popular, from local chili pepper eating contests to restaurant challenges involving extremely hot dishes. However, these challenges can sometimes have severe consequences. For instance, a Massachusetts teenager with a congenital heart defect died in September after participating in a spicy tortilla chip challenge and consuming a large quantity of chili pepper extract.
The Danish recall was prompted by a consumer inquiry to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration questioning the legality of the instant noodles. Subsequent lab assessments confirmed that the three noodle brands could be harmful to health, leading to the recall.
“It is important that parents are aware of the extreme noodle varieties and avoid them,” Dammand Nielsen advised.