Import of Korean noodles banned in PH

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will not allow new shipments of Nongshim noodles from South Korea to enter the country through any ports nationwide.

“No food items that could endanger the lives and well-being of Filipinos should be allowed to enter the country,” BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said Wednesday.

Biazon has directed all Customs ports to “closely monitor shipments of several brands of South Korean noodles manufactured by Nongshim Co. Ltd.”

These include Nongshim Neoguri (Hot), Nongshim Neugori (Mild Hot), Nongshim Neoguri (Multi Hot), Neongshim Big Bowl Shrimp, Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon Bowl, and Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon, among others.

“After getting reports from South Korea that said noodle brands have been recalled by their Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for containing the cancer-causing substance benzopyrene, I immediately ordered all our port officials to monitor the importation of these noodle brands and to subject them to testing by our FDA,” he said.