In early June, Denmark recalled several popular spicy instant noodle products produced by South Korean company Samyang due to high levels of capsaicin. Now, a seasoning product sold by the well-known American supermarket Trader Joe’s is flying off the shelves, but in South Korea, this product is considered contraband, and if carried into the country, it will be confiscated at the airport.
Trader Joe’s supermarket chain is not only popular among various ethnic groups in the United States but also has a significant market presence in Asia. This American organic supermarket chain has a peculiar star effect in Japan, where many people can be seen carrying Trader Joe’s tote bags.
In the United States, Trader Joe’s “Everything but the Bagel Seasoning” has become a consumer favorite and possibly the best-selling seasoning product at the supermarket. This seasoning can be used as a topping for salmon, roasted potatoes, salads, avocados, meats, and vegetables.
As one of the top-selling seasonings, this blend of sesame bagel salt contains sesame seeds (white and black), poppy seeds, dried garlic and onion, and flakes of sea salt, among other ingredients. The supermarket’s website indicates that this seasoning adds a crispy texture, baked flavor, and saltiness to foods such as grilled chicken, buttered popcorn, roasted potatoes, cream dips, pizza dough, salad dressings, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and more.
Although this seasoning is also popular in South Korea, it has become contraband due to the presence of poppy seeds in it. Since 2022, poppy seeds have been included on South Korea’s list of prohibited foods for import. Officials at Incheon International Airport in Seoul reported cases of such gifts being confiscated at the airport in the past few weeks.
The Washington Post reported on July 12 that the Korean Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management stated that poppy seeds are considered narcotics, and the Korean government has listed this seasoning as a “dangerous food purchased overseas.”
However, this law in South Korea is not widely known, even within the country. On social media, some South Koreans recommend this seasoning as a gift from the United States.
Kristen Lee, a lawyer at Lee & Lee Law Firm in Seoul, mentioned in an email to The Washington Post that some aspects of South Korea’s narcotic law are “out of step with reality and/or international trends.”
She noted that there have been cases of individuals who purchased poppy seeds being subjected to criminal investigations and summoned by authorities.
However, individuals are generally not punished for possessing such contraband. “Most consumers who carry/possess products containing poppy seeds are innocent,” she said.
So why were several spicy instant noodle products produced by Samyang recalled in Denmark? According to the Danish Food Administration, the individual packaging of these spicy instant noodles had such high levels of capsaicin that there was a risk of acute poisoning for consumers.
BBC reported that on June 11, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) announced the recall of three spicy instant noodle flavors from Samyang: Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken Stew, urging consumers who have these products to immediately discard or return them.
However, Samyang stated that there are no issues with the quality of the food product.