As European Countries Issue Recall Order, Lucky Me! Says Pesticide Not Added to Its Products
A harmful chemical used in pesticides is not added to Lucky Me! branded products, the noodle maker said in a statement on Thursday (July 7).
As news traveled about several European nations and Taiwan issuing a recall order for several batches of instant noodle brand Lucky Me!, which is manufactured by listed food giant Monde Nissin, the company issued a statement clarifying the status of its products.
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“It has come to our attention that there is information being shared about certain export versions of Lucky Me! products in an ongoing recall in the EU and Taiwan due to the presence of Ethylene Oxide,” the company said in the statement sent to Esquire Philippines and that was also posted as a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange. “The recall affects other company’s noodle brands and multiple categories such as ice cream, sesame seed, spices, calcium carbonate supplements, among others.
“We would like to clarify that Ethylene Oxide is not added in Lucky Me! products,” it added. “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.”
On Wednesday, (Thursday in Manila), health safety warnings issued by the governments of France, Malta, and Ireland began circulating on social media. In the one for Ireland, the message specified a certain batch of “Lucky Me! Instant Pancit Canton Noodles Original Flavour” with a Best Before date of 20 July 2022.
The warning said the batch was being recalled “due to the presence of the unauthorised pesticide ethylene oxide. This pesticide is not authorised 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. Therefore, exposure to this substance needs to be minimised. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batch.”
Lucky Me! is one of the most popular brands under Monde Nissin, a food conglomerate that was incorporated in 1979 but went public in June 2021. In 2021, the company posted a net loss attributable to the parent of P3.115 billion, over a 50 percent drop from the P7.3 billion it recorded the previous year.
According to most recent reports, Lucky Me! commanded a 68 percent market share in the instant noodles sector, while its biscuit brands (SkyFlakes, Nissin and M.Y. San Grahams) controlled 30.5 percent. Its plant-based brand Quorn is also making strides in the alternative to meats market.
Monde Nissin’s IPO was one of the largest in the country’s history, raising about P48.6 billion.
“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,” the company said.
