Danish gov't lifts recall on Buldak Ramen after heat recalculation

The Danish government lifted its recall on two Buldak Ramen products due to extreme spiciness after recalculating capsaicin levels.

Samyang Foods' Buldak 2x Spicy Hot Chicken instant noodle product, pictured, along with two other Buldak Ramen products, had been recalled by the Danish government in June. The recall was lifted on Monday. [EPA/YONHAP]

The Danish government lifted its recall of two Buldak Ramen products, which it had issued in June after deeming the ramyeon to have health risks due to extreme spiciness, on Monday. One recalled product, however, will remain off shelves.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) recalculated the capsaicin levels in the recalled products and concluded that two of the three recalled instant noodles — the Buldak 2x Spicy Hot Chicken and Buldak Hot Chicken Stew — were safe to consume, Samyang Foods said Tuesday. Since Monday, the products have again been permitted to be marketed and sold in Danish stores. The DVFA maintained its recall decision on the Buldak 3x Spicy Hot Chicken, the spiciest of the three, because it believed the noodles to be harmful when consumed.

The administration's poison hotline received 14 reports of illness, with symptoms including stomach pain and vomiting, following the consumption of the product, according to the Korea Times.

The DVFA, in June, deemed all three products to include levels of capsaicin so high they could cause acute poisoning when consumed based on an assessment by the DTU National Food Institute.

The administration had found 113 milligrams of capsaicin in 3x Spicy Hot Chicken; 69.6 milligrams in a package of 2x Spicy Hot Chicken and 42.4 milligrams in Hot Chicken Stew.

Those numbers the DTU institute found were similar to those of the Paqui Carolina Reaper tortilla chip, which contained 11.8 to 59.3 milligrams of capsaicin. The chip was discontinued it when a U.S. teenager collapsed, and later died of cardiopulmonary arrest, after eating it as part of the viral “One Chip Challenge.”

On Tuesday, however, Samyang Foods released calculations from a nationally certified research institute in Korea finding 27.8 milligrams in a 140-gram package of 3x Spicy Hot Chicken, 16.8 milligrams in 2x Spicy Hot Chicken and 11.1 milligrams in the 145-gram package of Hot Chicken Stew noodles.

Samyang Foods said that the lift of the recall was made possible due to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Representatives from Samyang and the Food Ministry met with the DVFA in person, according to the food company.

Samyang Foods' overseas revenue surpassed 800 billion won ($597 million) last year for the first time, and its stocks rose to an all-time high on the back of its popular Buldak Ramen and related products. The company announced plans to expand production lines for its ramyeon in June and is expected to reach 1.4 trillion won in sales this year.

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