After learning the news, I was kind of disappointed about why it happened. We sometimes eat Lucky Me! noodle products with the family, And now we have to take precautions? Well, maybe yes, maybe no. This noodle is also part of my childhood as we like to eat it mixed with vegetables found around the house and in the backyard garden.

Europian Countries such as France, Malta, and Ireland issued an advisory against the consumption of instant noodles because they allegedly contain or have a presence of no authorized pesticide.

Monde Nissin Statement on the Lucky Me! noodle products

Monde Nissin who made Lucky Me! brand denies that there is no Ethylene Oxide in the products. As it said

” We are aware of the 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 recall affects other companies’ noodle brands and multiple categories such as ice cream, sesame seed, spices, and calcium carbonate supplements, among others.

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. When processed into seasoning and sauces, these materials 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.” –  Monde Nissin Statement on the matter.

With this alleged advisory Philippine Health USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire that FDA is still verifying the said incidents.

What is Ethylene Oxide? How does it affects our body when we are exposed to it?

According to Wikipedia:

Ethylene oxide is an organic compound with the formula C₂H₄O. It is a cyclic ether and the simplest epoxide: a three-membered ring consisting of one oxygen atom and two carbon atoms. Ethylene oxide is a colorless and flammable gas with a faintly sweet odor. Because it is a strained ring, ethylene oxide quickly participates in a number of additional reactions that result in the ring opening. Ethylene oxide is isomeric with acetaldehyde and with vinyl alcohol Ethylene oxide is industrially produced by the oxidation of ethylene in the presence of a silver catalyst

While Ethylene Oxide has been used in pesticides in smaller quantities, it was discovered allegedly because of our technology today. This organic compound if we are humans exposed to it can cause toxicity the result is headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some other associated central and reproductive effects.

According also to US EPA :

“Ethylene Oxide (EtO) is an EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticide used to sterilize medical equipment and spices. It is the only sterilization method available for many medical devices and approximately 50 percent of all sterile medical devices in the United States are treated with EtO annually.”

What is the Government’s response to this issue with Lucky Me?

With this alleged advisory Philippine Health USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire that FDA is still verifying the said incidents.

As of July 15, 2022, FDA declares that Lucky Me! Instant Noodles are safe to eat or consume.

And, Monde Nissin says “The Food and Drug Administration has declared local Lucky Me! safe for consumption. The products’ compliance with food safety standards is further supported by the latest results from independent laboratory testing and analysis done abroad, showing that Lucky Me! passed the acceptable level for ethylene oxide. From the very first Lucky Me! noodled we served almost 33 years ago, we have always put our consumers’ safety and product quality at the forefront-these form the core of our business. Rest assured that we will always remain 100% committed to these. To our loyal consumers, we are grateful and lucky to have you!”

Final Thoughts

Hope this will be resolved as soon as possible so anyone who is affected will not suffer like those workers in the factory who are minimum wage earners only and those who have don’t enough budget and rely only on Lucky Me Noodle products.

As a mother, I am particular about what the family eats every day if it is healthy or unhealthy, good or bad, poison or not, especially for my little one sometimes she likes to eat noodles too mainly with Lucky Me!  Eggnog Chicken Products mix with egg batter. I am sadly disappointed to hear it. For me, maybe I will stand by waiting for how the government responds to this and what will be their decision together with Monde Nissin the Company involved in the alleged issue. 

Then that’s it! It is up to us now if we will continue eating these loved many Filipino instant Noodles of Lucky Me!

Want to buy Lucky Products? Shop here: https://invle.co/clex2nc

Reference:

Thanks to Wikipedia and US EPA.