Recall of Vietnamese Dried Noodles Detected with Excess Carcinogens

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] A carcinogen exceeding the standard level was detected in the flavor oil contained in dried noodle products from Vietnam.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 17th that benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogen, was detected above the standard level in the flavor oil contained in the Vietnamese dried noodle product "Pho Bo," imported and sold by the imported food retailer "Haneulcheoreom Co., Ltd." located in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, leading to a suspension of sales and a recall.

Benzo[a]pyrene is generated during the high-temperature cooking process of food when carbohydrates and proteins undergo incomplete combustion, and it is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The standard limit for benzo[a]pyrene is 2.0 μg/kg or less, while the detected levels in the problematic products ranged from 2.2 to 3.0 μg/kg. The recall targets products with expiration dates of December 3, 2021, April 5, 2022, and April 19, 2022.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We have taken measures to allow the relevant authorities to recall and dispose of the products," and requested, "Consumers who purchased these products should return them to the point of sale or purchase."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.