Denmark Recalls South Korean Instant Noodles for Being Too Spicy

A South Korean instant ramen product made by Samyang is being recalled for being too spicy in Denmark.

Three varieties of a “fire chicken” instant noodles product, which grew in popularity after being used in food challenges online, are being recalled due to the level of capsaicin found in the products. Capsaicin is a phenolic compound in chili peppers that gives them their spice and flavor.

The Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 3x Spicy, Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 2x Spicy, and Buldak Hot Chicken Stew are so high in the compound that they could cause acute poisoning, according to the Danish Food and Drug Administration, which shared the recall in a statement issued Tuesday.

“Chili in large quantities poses a risk to children and frail adults in particular. Possible symptoms include burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure,” Henrik Dammand Nielsen, head of the Danish food safety authority, said in a press release.

It adds, “If your child has eaten strong chilies without acute poisoning symptoms, there is no reason to worry. If your child shows acute symptoms immediately after eating the noodle products, you can contact the Poison Line.” 

Newsweek reports that the agency has ordered stores to remove the products from their shelves. Subsequently, they ask consumers to throw them away and not consume them.

Samyang Foods said it was the first time the company’s products had been recalled because they were deemed too hot. “Currently, the products are being exported around the world, but this is the first time they have been recalled for this reason,” a spokesperson for the company said, per The Guardian.

The products are currently sold online and in supermarkets and specialty stores. The company website reveals that in 1963, its efforts to overcome food shortages led to the creation of Samyang Ramen, which has subsequently become a food staple in Korea.

This is the first time these products have been recalled. The average Korean consumer eats about 77 servings of instant ramen in a year, and according to the World Instant Noodle Association, people consume around 100 billion servings annually.