Korea noodles safe to eat, DOH finds

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday ordered the lifting of ban on six brands of South Korean noodles after test results showed they were safe to eat.

In a statement on Monday, the DOH said it had conducted laboratory testing in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of samples of the Korean noodles and found “reassuring” results.

The results showed the levels of benzopyrene, a known carcinogen found in the noodles, were less than 5 ppb (parts per billion)—far below the regulatory limit of 10 pbb, the DOH noted.

“The [DOH] will coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry and Bureau of Customs for the lifting of the temporary ban on the six Korean brands starting today,” it said yesterday.

The Korean noodle brands were Nong Shim Neoguri Mild, Nong Shim Big Bowl Noodle Shrimp, Nong Shim SaengSaengUdon Bowl Noodles, Nong Shim SaengSaenUdon, Nong Shim Neoguri Hot and Nong Shim Neoguri Hot Multi. Jocelyn R. Uy