Denmark has decided to recall three popular varieties of South Korea’s Samyang Foods “Buldak” fire chicken noodles. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – Denmark has decided to recall three popular varieties of South Korea’s Samyang Foods “Buldak” fire chicken noodles, asserting that the products’ high levels of capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, pose a risk of acute intoxication for consumers, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported on June 11.
In a notice on its website, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration warned that the capsaicin content in a single package of the “Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken,” “2x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Hot Chicken Stew,” and “Hot Chicken Stew” noodles was alarmingly high.
The agency instructed consumers to discard any remaining products or return them to the place of purchase, cautioning that excessively spicy foods can be harmful to children.
The BBC did not specify whether a particular incident prompted the Danish authorities’ action. However, it noted that the advisory had sparked a debate among Danes fond of fiery fare, with many asserting that the nation’s tolerance for spices is relatively low.
On the Reddit forum dedicated to instant noodles, one commenter whose post garnered significant support remarked, “I have a Danish friend who thinks a little black pepper on breadcrumb-coated shrimp is too spicy. It’s not surprising they think this ramen is poison.”
Danish authorities asserted that the products’ high levels of capsaicin pose a risk of acute intoxication for consumers. (Photo: a screenshot from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration website)
The BBC added that Samyang Foods’ products do not appear to have drawn similar safety warnings in other countries.
The “fire noodle” varieties have gained a global following, even leading to shortages in the United States. Buoyed by this popularity, Samyang’s overseas sales accounted for 75% of its total revenue in the first quarter of this year, up 11 percentage points from 64% in the same period last year.
In a statement, Samyang Foods clarified that the recall was not due to quality issues with the products but rather stemmed from the Danish food authorities’ assessment that the extreme spiciness could pose problems.
The company stated, “We understand that the Danish authorities have initiated this recall because the products are too spicy, not because of any quality defects. While these products are currently exported worldwide, this is the first time a recall has been issued for this reason. We plan to carefully review the relevant local regulations and respond accordingly to this recall.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
