Before you reach out for that packet of spicy noodles, you need to souper careful. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) had to recall two instant noodle products from Indonesian brand Mie Sedaap due to the presence of ethylene oxide – a type of pesticide.
The two products affected are the Korean Spicy Chicken which has an expiry date of May 21, 2023 and the Korean Spicy Soup which expires on Mar. 17, 2023. Both products can be found in most supermarkets in Singapore.
Ethylene oxide is a pesticide used as a fumigant and sterilant for spices, cosmetics, and hospital and surgical equipment that cannot be sterilized by steam.
In small doses, it does not pose a risk but long-term exposure may cause serious health issues like irritation of the eyes, nose, skin and respiratory system – and can even increase the risk of cancer.
In a statement on Facebook, SFA said that they are continuing regulatory testing of other Mie Sedaap instant noodle products while also working with the importers and Indonesian authorities to investigate and rectify the cause of ethylene oxide contamination.
“Should ethylene oxide be detected beyond the stipulated maximum levels, SFA will initiate recalls of the affected products as a precautionary measure,” the statement read.
This is not the first time a product has been recalled due to ethylene oxide. Earlier in August, the same chemical was found in Haagen-Dazs ice cream products.
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