Samyang Foods says Denmark's Buldak recall based on spice miscalculation

Samyang Foods said that the Danish government's recall of Buldak ramyeon products was based on incorrect calculations of capsaicin.

Ramyeon manufacturer Samyang Foods' 3X Spicy Buldak Ramen, along with two other Buldak ramyeon products, were recalled by the Danish government last week over concerns for potential health risks due to their high capsaicin levels. [SAMYANG FOODS]

The Danish government's latest recall of spicy Buldak ramyeon products is based on incorrect calculations of their capsaicin content, Samyang Foods said Tuesday.

The manufacturer of the popular raymeon product is conducting its own assessment of spiciness with a state-run research institute in Korea to refute the decision by the authorities in Denmark. The company’s response comes a week after the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) recalled three of Samyang Foods’ Buldak products — 3X Spicy Buldak Ramen, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Hot Chicken Stew — last Wednesday, citing potential health risks due to the high levels of capsaicin.

The DVFA reportedly released the recall statement based on health assessments by the country’s DTU National Food Institute, a research organization at the Technical University of Denmark.

The researchers determined that a 140-gram package of 3X Spicy Buldak Ramen contained 113 milligrams of capsaicin while the 2X Spicy Buldak Ramen contained 69.6 milligrams and Buldak Hot Chicken Stew contained 42.4 milligrams. The capsaicin levels were calculated based on the Scoville heat units disclosed on Danish retail websites selling the noodles because Samyang Foods had not publicized specific amounts of capsaicin, according to the report published by the DVFA on June 6 that was reported on by the Korea Times.

The Scoville scale is a measurement of spiciness based on the concentration of chemical compounds called capsaicinoids, of which capsaicin is a member.

Denmark’s benchmark for the level of potentially harmful spiciness was based on comparisons to the previously viral "One Chip Challenge," which had 11.8 to 59.3 milligrams of capsaicin on one chip, according to the report. The manufacturer of the Paqui Carolina Reaper chip discontinued its product after a U.S. teenager died in 2023 upon experiencing health complications from eating the spice-loaded chip.

A spokesperson for Samyang Foods said the company will not disclose its own assessment of the capsaicin levels for their products and will instead rely on the results from the public institute for transparency.

Local media outlets reported on Tuesday that Samyang Foods determined that there were 25 milligrams of capsaicin in the 31-gram sauce packet contained in the 3X Spicy Buldak Ramen.

The spokesperson added that the company is considering sending a statement to the Danish government once the results are out.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]