China's importers to recall Nongshim noodles

BEIJING -- China's consumer quality watchdog on Friday urged importers to recall certain kinds of instant noodles produced by Nongshim, the Republic of Korea's largest instant noodle maker, as some of the noodles have been found to contain carcinogens.

The recall would affect six of the company's products, including Neoguri, bowl-type Neoguri and Sang Sang Noodles, which were found to contain benzopyrene, a compound that can cause lung cancer, according to an online statement from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

The decision came after the Korea Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it would recall the six varieties over health concerns.

"We have decided to issue a recall order for all of Nongshim's 'ramyeon' products that include materials that have been determined to be inappropriate," the Yonhap News Agency quoted an official from the Korea Food and Drug Administration as saying.

Following the news, AQSIQ urged importers to recall the problematic products and asked local quarantine authorities to step up checks over instant noodles imported from the ROK.