Lucky Me! local products, safe na kainin – FDA

ni Lolet Abania | July 16, 2022

Ipinahayag ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nitong Biyernes na ang lokal na Lucky Me! instant noodle products ay ligtas para ito ikonsumo.

Isang advisory ang inisyu ng FDA matapos na ang ethylene oxide ay matagpuan umano sa ilang Lucky Me! products na ibinebenta abroad.

“As a precautionary measure, the FDA coordinated with the local manufacturer of Lucky Me! Brand Noodle Products to determine the levels of ethylene oxide in the food products. The local manufacturer of the Lucky Me! Brand Noodle Products reported to the FDA that, based on tests conducted by an independent laboratory in Vietnam, ethylene oxide was not detected in the samples submitted for the following variants: Pancit Canton Extra Hot Chili, Pancit Canton Regular, Pancit Canton Chilimansi and Instant Mami Beef Regular. These Lucky Me! instant noodle variants are safe for consumption,” saad ng FDA sa kanilang advisory.

“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,” pahayag naman ng local manufacturer na Monde Nissin Corporation sa isang statement na nai-post sa Facebook.

Nakitaan ng maliit na bakas o trace ng ethylene oxide sa isang sample ng Pancit Canton Kalamansi, subalit batay sa naturang advisory ng FDA, “[this was] at a level below the EU acceptable level of 0.02 mg/kg.”

“In this regard, the FDA will study this matter to determine the appropriate risk management strategy in consultation with other government agencies like the Department of Agriculture,” sabi ng FDA.

Ayon sa FDA, ang Lucky Me! maker na Monde Nissin Corporation ay sumusunod sa itinakdang food safety standards base sa latest inspections ng ahensiya.

Sa isang statement, sinabi ng FDA na nakamit ng Monde Nissin ang Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) at Good Manufacturing Practice requirements sa ginanap na inspeksyon na isinagawa noong Marso at Hulyo.

“The FDA already convened series of meetings to evaluate the EU report and its implications,” ayon sa statement. “To further assure food safety, the local manufacturer is in the process of verifying the level of residual ethylene oxide in the packets of seasoning.”

Ang statement ay tumutukoy sa isang report ng European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) na anila, may presensiya ng isang “unauthorized substance,” ethylene oxide, sa Lucky Me! products.

Ang ethylene oxide ay pinakakaraniwang ginagamit sa produksyon ng ibang chemicals, kabilang na ang pag-manufacture ng solvents, antifreeze, detergents, adhesives, polyurethane foam, at pharmaceuticals.

Tinatayang tatlong bansa, Malta, Ireland, at France, ang nag-recall ng ilan sa mga produkto.

“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 minimized,” pahayag ng Food Safety Authority ng Ireland sa kanilang advisory, kung saan listed ang Thailand bilang country of origin para sa tinatawag na product in question.

Noong nakaraang linggo, nilinaw ng Monde Nissin na walang idinagdag na ethylene oxide sa kanilang mga produkto, at ang substance ay ginagamit lamang sa treatment ng ilang raw materials. Giit ng kumpanya na ang mga materials ay maaaring kakitaan pa rin ng traces ng ethylene oxide kapag naproseso na sa seasoning at sauces.

“From the very first Lucky Me! noodle 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,” pahayag ng Monde Nission Corporation sa isang statement.