Italy Issues a Recall Order
Nongshim has received an order to recall its ramen products in Europe again for the detection of '2-chloroethanol' in excess of the maximum allowable limit.
According to industry sources, Italian public health authorities gave the recall order for Nongshim Shin Ramen Kimchi on Feb. 25 as an excessive amount of 2-chloroethanol was detected. The expiration date for the instant noodle is May 19, 2022.
2-chloroethanol easily evaporates at room temperature and the vapor is highly toxic, causing toxic symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding, to people who inhaled it.
The Korean government set the maximum allowable limits for 2-chloroethanol last year -- 30 mg/kg for agricultural and livestock products, seafood, and processed food and 10 mg/kg for foods for infants and toddlers.
In the United States and Canada, the maximum allowable limit is set at 940 ppm. Europe does not distinguish 2-chloroethanol from ethylene oxide, which is a carcinogen, and prohibits distribution of products whose content of the two substances exceeds 0.02 ppm to 0.1 ppm.
Accordingly, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted a test on the Nongshim products, and ethylene oxide was not detected. It detected 2-chloroethanol in some products and their ingredients, but the amount was at a level that poses no risk of harm to the human body.
Nongshim was also ordered to take back all of its Seafood Ramen exported to Europe due to the detection of carcinogenic substances in August 2021.