IN a blow to Philippine instant noodle maker Monde Nissin Corporation, the governments of Ireland, France and Malta yesterday advised its citizens not to consume the firm’s “Lucky Me!” products which they said contained high levels of ethylene oxide.
Ethylene oxide, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, is a hazardous chemical commonly used to manufacture pesticides and disinfectants and is carcinogenic to humans.
In a statement, Monde Nissin Corporation said that its products do not contain ethylene oxide in their ingredients.
“We would like to clarify that ethylene oxide is not added in Lucky Me! products. It is a commonly used treatment in spices and seeds to control microbial growth typical in agricultural products. These materials, when processed into seasoning and sauces, may still show traces of ethylene oxide,” it said.
It added: “We are aware of information being shared about certain Lucky Me! Products in an ongoing recall in the EU and Taiwan due to the presence of ethylene oxide. The recall affects other companies’ noodle brand and multiple categories such as ice cream, sesame seed, spices, calcium carbonate supplements, among others.”
The federal agency National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the United States has said that exposure to the chemical may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulty, diarrhea, drowsiness, weakness, and eye and skin burns.
Many industries continue to use ethylene oxide to manufacture ethylene glycol, an antifreeze and polyester component, or, in smaller amounts, to make pesticides and sterilizers.
In separate health advisories, the Irish, French and Maltese governments recalled variants of the Lucky Me! noodle soup and pancit canton, particularly those manufactured between 2021 and 2022 in Thailand.
The variants include the original, hot chili, kalamansi, and chilimansi flavors of Lucky Me! pancit canton, as well as the brand’s beef mami noodle soup flavor.
The Lucky Me! pancit canton is a fried noodle variant of the brand’s instant noodles and was first introduced in the Philippines in 1991.
In a statement, the Food Safety Authority (FSA) of Ireland said the ethylene oxide found in the noodles is used for pesticides and is not authorized as an ingredient in food products sold in European Union countries.
“Although the consumption of the contaminated product does not pose an acute risk to health, there may be health issues if there is continued consumption of ethylene oxide over a long period of time,” the FSA said.
It said recall notices will be displayed in stores that sell the instant noodle brand.
The Department of Information of Malta, meanwhile, said that “following information received through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, said products must not be consumed due to high levels of ethylene oxide, a pesticide.”
The governments of The Netherlands and Denmark have also flagged the said products in 2021 likewise due to the use of ethylene oxide.
Monde Nissin assured the public that they are faithfully complying with government standards in the use of the said substance as set by the Philippine and US Food and Drug Administration.
“Rest assured that all Lucky Me! products are Philippine FDA registered and comply with local food safety standards and even the US FDA standards for ethylene oxide,” it said.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the FDA is ready to recall from the market instant noodles products that will be found contaminated with ethylene oxide as earlier detected by the governments of Ireland, Malta, and France.
In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the FDA has the capacity to recall products that will be found to be contaminated and may pose potential health risks to consumers.
“Whichever is detected by the FDA as having this chemical, they will be immediately removed from the market. Whichever affected specific batches and lot numbers are determined, they will be recalled from the market,” she said.
For the moment, however, the health official said they are not yet issuing any recall order because the FDA is still conducting looking into the veracity of the reports
“The incident was from Europe. Our FDA now is verifying the report so we can issue further information to the public,” she said.
Vergeire, meanwhile, agreed that consumption of products with ethylene oxide may cause adverse health reactions, which include headaches, vomiting, loose bowel movement, difficulty in breathing, and fatigue. — With Gerard Naval
