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MANILA, Philippines – Monde Nissin on Thursday, July 7, said its popular instant noodle brand Lucky Me! is safe to consume despite health warnings and a recall order in some European countries.

Food regulators in Ireland, Malta, and France issued separate health warnings against Lucky Me!, saying that it contains ethylene oxide, a chemical often used to disinfect products which may also cause health problems like cancer.

“This pesticide is not authorized for use in foods sold in the EU. Although the consumption of the contaminated product does not pose an acute risk to health, there may be health issues if there is continued consumption of ethylene oxide over a long period of time,” the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said.

Ireland also issued a recall order for a batch of Lucky Me! Instant Pancit Canton due to the presence of ethylene oxide.

“Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batch,” the Irish regulator said.

Malta warned its citizens not to consume Lucky Me! and its flavored variants.

In a statement, Monde Nissin said ethylene oxide is not added to Lucky Me! products, but it is used to prevent microbial growth in spices.

“It is a commonly used treatment in spices and seeds to control microbial growth typical in agricultural products. These materials, when processed into seasoning and sauces, may still show traces of ethylene oxide,” the company said.

Monde Nissin assured customers that it complies with regulations imposed by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Authority, as well as the United States’ FDA.

The company also mentioned that the recall affects other noodle brands and “multiple categories such as ice cream, sesame seed, spices, calcium carbonate supplements, among others.”

Shares of Monde Nissin fell by over 7% on July 7.

In a statement on July 16, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration said “all flavor variants of locally manufactured Lucky Me! instant noodles… pass the standard for ethylene oxide and are safe for consumption.”

This means all of the Lucky Me! instant noodle products made in the Philippines were safe. The instant noodles that were flagged however were made in Thailand, which the FDA announced earlier. – With a report by Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com