Looks like Lucky Me! isn’t feeling so lucky after its beloved Pancit Canton noodles were recalled in 10 countries in the EU — Malta, Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Croatia, Greenland, and Faeroe Islands — as well as Taiwan after regulators said the instant noodles contained unsafe levels of ethylene oxide, a common pesticide used in agricultural products.
A day after the noodle ban, Lucky Me!’s parent company, Monde Nissin, issued a statement clarifying that they did not add the chemical to the products during the manufacturing process.
Ethylene oxide is used in treating its raw materials, the company said, and traces of it may still show up even after the materials have been processed into its seasonings and sauces.
“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 company wrote in a statement.
“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 seasonings and sauces, may still show traces of ethylene oxide.”
“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,” the company added.
Ireland’s Food Safety Authority noted that the recalled batch containing “unauthorized” ethylene oxide came from a manufacturing plant in Thailand, according to its website.
Monde Nissin manufacturing plants in the Philippines are located in Laguna, Davao, and Cebu.
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told the media that the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is already investigating the matter.
Lucky Me emerged as the most chosen brand in the Philippines in a 2021 Kantar survey.
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