Back in business: Hochi, the mascot of Buldak’s hot chicken ramen, standing by a boat decorated with the product’s logo at a media event in central Copenhagen. — Reuters
DANES in central Copenhagen marked the return to supermarket shelves of fiery South Korean ramen noodles that had been banned for being too spicy, a decision that has since been partly reversed.
Stores in Denmark in June removed three variants of South Korean Samyang Foods’ Buldak instant ramen line after the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration found the noodles’ high capsaicin level posed a serious health risk.
Capsaicin, the compound in chillies that creates a burning sensation when eaten, can cause intoxication, nausea, high blood pressure and vomiting when ingested in high quantities, the Danish regulator has said.
Samyang, which sells the products worldwide, had contested the ban, and on Thursday celebrated the reversal by feeding its noodles to social media influencers, gathered on a ferry adorned in the firm’s bright-red colours on Copenhagen’s harbour.
The regulator’s warning in June was aimed at children and youth, who challenge each other on social media to eat the spicy ramen, as well as vulnerable adults.
But the ban was lifted last month for two of the three variants after further examination of the spicy noodles showed that they did not exceed the critical capsaicin level. — Reuters
