Denmark has issued a recall for several spicy ramen noodle products from South Korean company Samyang, citing potential health risks due to high capsaicin levels. The products affected include Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken Stew.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) announced the recall on Tuesday, advising consumers to discard or return the products. According to the DVFA, the capsaicin levels in these ramen varieties are “so high that they pose a risk of the consumer developing acute poisoning.”
“If you have the products, you should discard them or return them to the store where they were purchased,” the DVFA said in a statement, emphasizing the potential risk to children from consuming extremely spicy food.
Samyang, however, maintains that there is no quality issue with their noodles. “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 company stated to the BBC. “The products are being exported globally. But this is the first time they have been recalled for the above reason.”
The recall has sparked a mix of reactions online, with many spicy food enthusiasts finding humor in the situation. One popular comment on the Reddit r/Korea group remarked, “I had a friend from Denmark who thought tasteless breaded shrimp with a little bit of ground pepper on it was too spicy. Not surprised they think this ramen is poison.”
The DVFA has not specified any incidents that led to the recall. Samyang plans to review Denmark’s local regulations and respond accordingly. This recall is unprecedented for Samyang’s products, which have not faced similar actions in other countries.
Samyang, known for being the first company in South Korea to produce instant noodles in the 1960s, continues to export its products globally despite the recall in Denmark. Capsaicin, the compound responsible for the spicy sensation in chili peppers, is the key ingredient causing the concern.
