DOH says no ethylene-oxide contamination in Lucky Me! noodles made in PH 


The Department of Health (DOH) said that the  Lucky Me! instant noodles manufactured in the country are not contaminated with ethylene oxide. 

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that this was based on the preliminary investigation of the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Base sa kanilang pagkakasuri at pag-iimbestiga ay hindi po apektado iyong production ng ating food product na ito dito po sa ating bansa (Based on their investigation, the production of this food product here in our country is not affected),” said Vergeire. 

“We are assuring everybody that FDA has already verified na ito pong product na noodles na ito, mayroon po tayong local manufacturers (that we have local manufacturers of this noodle product). We are not currently affected by this incident of contamination that happened in the European countries,” she added. 

Despite this, Vergeire said that the FDA continues to conduct an investigation.

“Ang atin pong FDA ay patuloy pong iniimbestigahan ito para makita kung mayroon man talaga na nakarating man from those manufacturers abroad dito po, papunta sa ating bansa (Our FDA is continuously investigating this matter to check if the products from manufacturers abroad have reached the country),” she added. 

Some European countries have issued  health warnings against the popular Filipino instant noodle brand  due to reportedly high levels of  ethylene oxide.

The FDA said that ethylene oxide is a “processing aid used to disinfect herbs and spices.”  It added that the use of  ethylene oxide “for sterilizing purposes in food is not allowed in the European Union.”

Earlier, Vergeire said that exposure to ethylene oxide may cause headache, vomiting, loose bowel movement, difficulty in breathing, and fatigue.