Korea asks Phl to lift noodle recall

MANILA, Philippines - The Korean embassy requested the Philippine government yesterday to lift the recall of six Korean noodle products, saying the level of a carcinogenic substance found in them “was extremely low.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled last Nov. 1 Nongshim Negori noodles in hot, multi hot and mild variations; Nongshim Big Bowl Noodle Shrimp; Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon Bowl Noodle and Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon. They are all manufactured by Nong Shim Co. Ltd.

The products were found to contain benzopyrene, a chemical “with carcinogenic potential.” 

In a statement, the embassy said the Korean FDA conducted tests and issued a certificate dated Nov. 7 that “the level of benzopyrene found in the noodle powder, which ranges from 0.4 to 1.6 parts per billion (ppb), was extremely low and has no harmful effect on the human body.”

The embassy said the benzopyrene level was lower than the 5 ppb and 10 ppb limits set by the Korean government for wet smoked fish and dried smoked fish products.

“The European Union has similarly set the same standards for its wet smoked fish. Other countries, such as Japan and the United States, did not set specific standards for benzopyrene in smoked fish products, but recommended its industries to voluntarily reduce the presence of the said organic compound to the lowest possible level,” the embassy added.

Asked about the request, FDA spokesperson Nazarita Tacandong said they could not yet act on the Korean government’s request.

“We have also been conducting laboratory analysis of the noodles so we have to wait for the results.  Maybe on Monday, the results will come out,” Tacandong added.

Based on the KFDA certificate, the embassy added that Nong Shim Co. Ltd. “is allowed to sell the six noodle brands that are now available in the Korean market without any complaints from the people.”