BOC to name importers of toxic Korean noodles

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has started identifying the importers of Korean noodles after the Food and Drugs Administration and the FDA’s Korean counterpart declared six products to contain a cancer-causing chemical.

Commissioner Rufino Biazon has ordered BOC Assessment Operation and Coordinating Group deputy commissioner Prudencio Reyes Jr. to provide a list of importers of noodle products from Korea.

The BOC placed under close watch Korean noodle brands Spicy Neoguri, Mild Neoguri, Neoguri Cup Noodles, Saewootang Cup Noodles and Seng Seng Udong.

The FDA recalled six Korean noodle products after the Korean FDA had confirmed that they contained benzopyrene, a hydrocarbon found in coal tar and cigarette smoke that has been linked to lung, bladder and skin cancer.

The products are the Nongshim Negori noodles in hot, multi hot and mild variations; Nongshim Big Bowl Noodle Shrimp; Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon Bowl Noodle and Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon.