The Danish Food Regulatory Authority has recalled a brand of instant noodles, declaring the chewy, umami-filled strands to be a health risk, despite no quality control issues. They were so hot.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) has taken the decision to recall three varieties of popular instant noodle brand Buldak because they were deemed too heavy on chilli.
The Danish agency said in a statement on Tuesday that the pasta “is being recalled because the overall capsaicin levels in the products pose a risk of acute poisoning.”
Capsaicin is the natural ingredient that makes chili peppers hot, and is the reason for the burning sensation that diners love or hate in a meal.
Buldak noodles are manufactured by Samyang Foods, a South Korean company that in 2023 generated $2.3 billion in revenue. Buldak means “fire chicken” in Korean, which is a clear reference to what awaits inside the colorful packaging. The three types of noodles subject to the recall are Buldak Samyang 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, Buldak Samyang 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Buldak Samyang Hot Chicken Stew.
The noodle recall was unprecedented for Samyang, according to the company. “This is the first time they have been subject to recall for this reason,” a Samyang spokesman said Tell CNN. “Because it's so hot it could cause problems.”
A DVFA spokesman said the high levels of spices in Boldak pasta were particularly dangerous to “children and the frail or elderly if they consumed the total capsaicin content found in the packets”. luck.
Are spicy foods dangerous to your health?
For the most part spicy food Which contain capsaicin is not dangerous.
However, extremely high levels of capsaicin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a burning sensation when ingested. According to To the National Poison Center in D.C., a nonprofit poisoning hotline.
Some studies have found that regular consumption of spicy foods has health benefits. A 2015 Stady from China found that people who ate spicy food six to seven times a week showed a “relative risk reduction in overall mortality” of 14% compared to people who ate spicy food only once a week. There is also some research that suggests that spicy foods can aid in weight loss because they reduce appetite and cause the body to expend more energy, thus burning calories. A meta-analysis of about 90 clinical trials found that eating spicy foods more often “would lead to clinically significant levels of weight loss within a year or two.” According to To a 2012 academic paper.
A pasta brand founded by a former housewife turned CEO
Buldak noodles were the brainchild of Kim Jong-soo, who is now CEO of Samyang Foods. Kim had an unexpected rise to the corner office, marrying into the family that owned Samyang Foods, according to a… interview In the Wall Street Journal. She was a housewife until the company fell on hard times, and her father-in-law, then Samyang's chairman, urged her to join the company, which she eventually did as head of sales despite having no company experience.
“There was nothing but despair,” Kim said of her first days in Samyang.
Ultimately, she would help change the company's fate when Boldak was sparked by the idea of having lunch with her daughter at a rice shop that served extremely spicy stir-fries. Immediately after lunch, Kim went to the grocery store and bought three each of hot sauce and chili powder. Two groups went to Samyang's product development and marketing teams respectively. The latter returned home with her to take her practical test, according to magazine. After months of research that required 1,200 chickens, two tons of hot sauce, and chili peppers from around the world, Boldak's recipe was perfect.
In the United States, spicy Boldak noodles have gained popularity in recent years after sparking interest on social media. Hot Ramen Buldak has produced YouTube videos with exaggerated titles like “Nuclear Fire Spicy Noodle Challenge” and “Extra Hot Ramen Challenge”!!! (Do not try this at home).”
Buldak hasn't paid influencers to try the product but still welcomes interest. “The creators expressed themselves in an organic and honest way,” Kim told The New York Times. magazine.
Then the brand gained more popularity when it released A Carbonara Flavor – a reference to the popular Romanian word Pasta dish Contains eggs, ham cheek, pecorino and parmesan cheese. The Italian-inspired group has launched its own wave of reaction videos on social media, including videos from celebrities like Cardi B, run out Across the country. (Cardi B's social media video caused Samyang shares to rise more than 30%.)
The DVFA cited the emergence of social media challenges in the country as one of the reasons for its decision to ban spicier Boldak products. This isn't the first time this year that a spicy food has been recalled due to a social media challenge. In the United States, a teenager died after a social media challenge that encouraged people to eat a very spicy tortilla chip. The manufacturer Paqui then asked retailers to do so Stop selling the product.
Spice-averse Danes who still want to try the product might take a page from Kim, who herself found Buldak noodles too hot. “But after eating it for a long time, it became more and more delicious and familiar,” she added. Wall Street Journal.