COPENHAGEN—Danes in central Copenhagen on Thursday celebrated the return of fiery South Korean ramen noodles to supermarket shelves after a ban was partly reversed. Stores in Denmark had removed three variants of South Korean Samyang Foods’ Buldak instant ramen line in June due to concerns about the noodles’ high capsaicin level posing a health risk.
Capsaicin, the compound in chillies responsible for the burning sensation when eaten, can lead to intoxication, nausea, high blood pressure, and vomiting in high quantities, according to the Danish regulator.
Samyang had contested the ban, and on Thursday, the company marked the reversal by serving its noodles to social media influencers aboard a ferry in Copenhagen’s harbour.
“It’s very spicy. But now that I’ve had them a few times, I just enjoy them more and more,” said Phillip, a Copenhagen resident.
Both influencers and fans gathered to try the noodles served by chefs onboard the boat as it sailed through the Danish capital.
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The regulator had warned in June about the dangers of the spicy ramen, particularly for children, youngsters, and vulnerable adults who engage in social media challenges involving the noodles.
Last month, the ban was lifted for two of the three variants after further testing showed that they did not exceed the critical capsaicin level.
“When they were banned, I bought like 50 packages, which I still have now but I guess I have a good deposit,” Phillip shared. “I feel great now that they’re available again.”
By Isabelle Yr Carlsson and Tom Little
