Health officials in Korea ordered instant noodle giant Nong Shim to recall six varieties of instant ramen on Thursday after a cancer-causing carcinogen was found, according to news reports.
The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) said they told Nong Shim to recall any ramen containing katsuobushi, or smoke-dried bonito, which may contain benzopyrene, according to Yonhap News.
This included the Neoguri brand of seafood ramen noodles as well as Sang Sang Noodle. Taiwan health officials ordered a similar recall upon hearing the news, according to Focus Taiwan.
The six products recalled in South Korea do not include the popular Shin Ramyun noodles.
In June, the KFDA conducted tests on 30 instant noodle products sold in South Korea and found that six products by Nongshim contained benzopyrene, with the Neoguri series containing the highest level of 4.7 parts per billion, according to the country’s Yonhap News Agency.
The cancer-causing substance was found in the powdered seasonings in the noodle products, the KFDA said.
