VietNamNet Bridge – The Food Safety Agency has decided to withdraw two Korean instant noodle products, which contain benzopyrene, the toxic causing skin and lung cancers, from the market.

The decision was made after the Food Safety Agency received a note from the Korean Embassy in Vietnam, announcing the voluntary recall of the above instant noodle products because these products contain benzopyrene, the substance causing skin, bladder and lung cancers.

This matter is created in the process of fumigation and heating to create fragrance for the product. South Korea has not established standards on benzopyrene in instant noodles and packaged spices for instant noodle products. However, this country and the European Union have set the standards for benzopyrene in smoked meat and fish products (smoked salmon) at 5 micrograms per kilo. Korea also set the threshold for this substance in dried smoked meat and fish at 10 microgram per kilo.

Japan and the United States do not set standards for this substance in smoked meat and fish, but they recommend that manufacturers reduce the concentration of this substance to the lowest level.

For the instant noodle products produced by Nong Shim Co., the Korean authorities said the findings of benzopyrene in the spices of these product is lower than the maximum level allowed in the raw material (10 microgram per kilo).

The detected Benzopyrene almost has no impact on the human body, but Nong Shim violated regulations on using raw material in production so these products are inconsistent with the provisions of the Food Hygiene Law of the Republic of Korea. Therefore, the Korean Food Safety Authority has asked Nong Shim to implement corrective actions to tightly control the use of raw materials.

To date, there are two products of Nong Shim are certified to meet Vietnamese standards, instant noodle Neoguri (Hot) and Neoguri (Mild).

The Agency of Food Safety requests Vietnamese importers to recall the two above instant noodle products.

Compiled by Thu Ha