Denmark’s food agency has withdrawn three South Korean spicy instant noodle products over fears they are so hot they could cause “acute poisoning”.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DFDA) said that the Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Hot Chicken Stew would be taken off shelves for public safety.
In a statement they claimed the products contained levels of capsaicin, a spicy compound found in chilli peppers, that were “so high that they pose a risk of the consumer developing acute poisoning”.
"If you have the products, you should discard them or return them to the store where they were purchased," the agency added.
It urged parents to contact Danish health officials if children show “acute symptoms” of poisoning.
Children and teenagers in Denmark have been daring each other on social media to eat “a strong bowl of noodle soup”, referring to the three South Korean products, the agency said.
Henrik Dammand Nielsen from the DFDA said that possible symptoms include burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure.
A spokesperson for Samyang Foods said: “Currently, the products are being exported around the world, but this is the first time they have been recalled for this reason.”
In September, a US teenager with a congenital heart defect who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large quantity of chile pepper extract.
An autopsy report showed that the girl died on September 1, 2023 after eating the Paqui chip as part of the manufacturer’s “One Chip Challenge”.
