Nongshim noodle recall urged over cancer-causing substance
Lawmaker demands action after South Korean authorities take six varieties off the shelves
A cancer-causing substance found in Nongshim instant noodles has triggered a product recall in South Korea, but Hong Kong authorities have not followed suit.
The South Korean authorities ordered the recall of six varieties of the noodles, five of which are available in Hong Kong.
They are Nongshim's mild and spicy Neoguri udon, "small bowl" Neoguri cup ramen, Saengsaeng bowl udon and "big bowl" shrimp-flavour cup noodle. The Centre for Food Safety confirmed all five were on sale here but did not order a recall.
The sixth product, not available here, is a "big bowl" version of the Neoguri cup ramen.
The noodles were found to contain benzopyrene, which has been named as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun urged the government to initiate a recall as soon as possible and to alert the public. "If South Korea ordered a recall, Hong Kong should follow. It is reasonable to have doubts on the noodles' safety, as even their originating country has decided to recall them," he said.
The ingredient responsible for the alert appears to be katsuobushi, or smoke-dried bonito, according to the Korea Times.