Press Release - Call to stop sale and consumption of a plasticiser-tainted instant noodle imported from Japan (with photos)

Call to stop sale and consumption of a plasticiser-tainted instant noodle imported from Japan (with photos)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 27) called on the public to stop consuming the following instant noodles, which were imported from Japan and sold at a supermarket within a local department store, as a sample of a sachet of soup powder included in a noodle pack was found to contain a plasticiser, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The CFS also instructed the trade to immediately stop selling the concerned batch of the instant noodles.

Brand name and food name: TOPVALU TV SALT Flavoured Instant Ramen Noodles
Retailer: JUSCO Supermarket (Kornhill Store)
Exclusive distributor: Aeon Stores (HK) Co, Ltd
Manufacturer: Aeon Co, Ltd, Chiba, Japan
Importer: AIC Merchandising (Japan) Ltd
Packaging: 93 grammes x 5 packs
Expiry date: October 6, 2011

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre collected a sample of the instant noodles from the aforementioned retailer for testing. Results showed that plasticisers were not detected in the noodles, but DEHP was found in the sample of a sachet of soup powder included in the noodle pack at a level of two parts per million (ppm), exceeding the action level of 1.5 ppm adopted by the CFS."

The CFS also collected two other samples of different flavours of the same brand of instant noodles, i.e. "TOPVALU TV Miso Flavoured Instant Noodles" and "TOPVALU TV Soya Sauce Flavoured Instant Noodles" for testing. Test results showed that neither the noodles nor the accompanying sachets of soup powder/condiment were found to contain plasticisers.

The spokesman said, "Although the level of DEHP found in the soup powder sachet included in the ‘TOPVALU TV SALT Flavoured Instant Ramen Noodles' sample was above the action level, dietary exposure estimation showed that the exposure to DEHP by average and high consumers from consuming the concerned product would not exceed the Tolerable Daily Intake of 0.025mg/kg of body weight under the World Health Organisation Guidelines, which will not pose a risk to human health.

"However, as a precautionary measure, the CFS instructed the concerned importer/retailer to immediately stop the sale and initiate recall of the relevant batch of the product. People should also stop consuming the concerned noodles they have purchased."

He said, "A person in charge of the concerned importer indicated to the CFS that they were the exclusive distributor of that specific brand of instant noodles, which was only for sale at their own outlets. They have already removed the instant noodles concerned from shop shelves."

The importer also said that product recall is underway and a hotline (tel: 2884 6888) was set up to answer enquiries during office hours.

The spokesman added, "The CFS will continue its investigations and follow-up work, and closely monitor the recall arrangements. It will also conduct checks at retail outlets to see if the product is available for sale."

He added, "If any food product is found to be tainted with plasticisers, the CFS will take necessary follow-up actions to safeguard public health."

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department instructed the trade today (June 27) to stop selling and urged the public not to consume "TOPVALU TV SALT Flavoured Instant Ramen Noodles" imported from Japan. A plasticiser di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was found in a sample of a sachet of soup powder included in a noodle pack at a level of two parts per million. Photo shows a pack of five units of the instant noodles.