These ramen noodles had to be removed from a country for being too spicy

Hong Kong, Seoul () – Three varieties of “fire chicken” instant ramen noodles, popularized by a viral online challenge, have been recalled in Denmark for being considered too spicy.

The level of capsaicin found in noodles Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 3x Spicy, Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 2x Spicy and Hot Chicken Stew was so high that it could poison consumers, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration reported on Tuesday. in a statement.

Capsaicin is a spicy chemical naturally present in chili peppers.

South Korean noodle giant Samyang, which developed ramen, said Wednesday that the products were not being recalled due to quality issues.

It’s “because it’s so spicy it could cause problems,” a spokesperson told . “It is the first time that they have been subject to (a) withdrawal for this reason.”

The Danish regulatory body did not specify whether the withdrawal was due to a specific incident. He urged consumers to throw away the products or return them to the place where they were purchased.

Instant noodles originate from Japan, but have become a staple throughout Asia. Samyang is reputed to have produced South Korea’s first instant ramen in 1963, when the country was mired in post-war poverty and needed cheap, accessible food.

Samyang was the third noodle maker in the country, after Ottugi and Nongshim, by sales in 2022, the last year for which information was available. according to the research company NICE Information Service.

Buldak, which means “fire chicken” in Korean, was developed by Samyang CEO Kim Jung-soo, a housewife who married into the family business and ended up taking it over. In January declared to The Wall Street Journal which was inspired by a spicy scrambled egg.

The noodles were launched in 2012 and became popular on social media thanks to influencers who proclaimed the “Fire Noodle Challenge.” In March, rapper Cardi B revived the trend with a video on TikTok.

According to the tasters, The original Buldak ramen had a score of 4,000 on the Scoville scale, which is roughly equivalent to the spiciness of jalapenos. Some of the new flavors can be two or three times hotter, they said.

‘s Antonia Mortensen contributed to this report.