Was a 2024 recall of instant ramen noodles linked to deaths of five children in the U.S., as a post on TikTok suggested? No, that's not true: At the time of this publication, one voluntary recall was listed on the Food and Drug Administration website for Sun Noodles products because they may contain undeclared egg white powder. Sun Noodles confirmed to Lead Stories that the recall was completed as of September 17, 2024, and no known or reported deaths or illnesses were associated. No formal complaints had been filed.
The claim originated in a video shared to TikTok on September 11, 2024, (archived here) with a text overlay that reads, "5 CHILDREN PASSED AWAY FROM EATING RAMEN NOODLES?! 🤯" A caption that accompanied the post read:
This has to stop 🤦🏾♂️🤯#foryou #fypシviral #men #women #scary #ramennoodles #news
Below is how the post appeared at the time of this publication:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken Fri Sept 13 09:12:24 2024 UTC)
The video above opened with a person saying:
So, why am I just hearing that five children passed away from eating ramen noodles? And I'm also hearing that ramen noodles were on recall, which I didn't know.
The person in the video does not provide provide details such as what country the children were residents of or when their supposed deaths occurred. He also did not specify the brand of instant noodles that were supposedly recalled and for what reason. "Ramen" is a type of Japanese noodle dish, not a brand.
At the time of this publication, one active recall (archived here) related to instant noodles was listed on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, with no deaths reported.
In May 2024, Sun Noodle issued a voluntary recall (archived here) of more than 37,000 "S&S CUP SAIMIN" noodle products manufactured in 2023 and 2024 because "they may contain undeclared egg white powder" of concern to those with egg allergies.
Ahmad Yu (archived here), president of Sun Noodle Hawai'i, told Lead Stories in a phone interview on September 17, 2014, that links between the Sun Noodle recall and the supposed deaths of five children are false.
"There have been no reported deaths, injuries, or illnesses related to our products or the recall in question," wrote Yu in a follow-up email received the same day, adding:
The recall... was initiated due to an undeclared egg ingredient in the fish cake garnish. This was a voluntary recall conducted out of an abundance of caution to protect individuals with egg allergies. To date, there have been no complaints or health-related claims, and the recall process was completed and officially closed in July 2024.
No FDA record linking deaths of five children with ramen noodle recall in the U.S.
The FDA regulates recalls (archived here), the removal of market foods that violate safety regulations. In the U.S., the FDA regulates all foods except meat, poultry, and processed egg products, which the Department of Agriculture regulates.
Lead Stories examined 400 food recalls active on the FDA website as of September 13, 2024, finding no instant noodle recall linked to deaths of five children.
While food allergies (archived here) can be a serious life-threatening condition, as of September 13, 2024, neither the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nor the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (archived here) had reported the deaths of five children in the U.S. associated with instant noodles. Lead Stories contacted both agencies for further information and will update this article accordingly.
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) wrote in a May 17, 2024, news release (archived here) that egg allergy symptoms usually occur a few minutes to a few hours after eating foods containing eggs and can vary from person to person. While rare, egg allergies can cause anaphylaxis, narrowing the airways and blocking breathing.
"A consumer with an egg allergy or severe sensitivity should notify their health care provider if the recalled product has been consumed. If a consumer shows signs of anaphylaxis, immediately administer an epinephrine autoinjector (i.e., EpiPen, Auvi-Q, etc.) and call 911 or your local emergency number, as anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate care," wrote the state agency, adding "Per Sun Noodle, to date there have been no reports of illness or adverse events attributed to the recalled product."
Reports of child deaths linked to instant noodles in South Africa are uncorroborated
In South Africa, it was reported (archived here) by some outlets (archived here) in 2021 that "a total of five deaths" were reportedly linked to food poisoning from instant noodles. However, whether these food products caused the deaths or the noodles were recalled was unconfirmed. Lead Stories contacted South Africa's Department of Health and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority for further information about the alleged deaths and will update this report when the agency responds.
Lead Stories also searched through current recalls (archived here) published online by South Africa's National Consumer Commission (NCC) as of September 13, 2024. There was one recall (archived here) for Knorr-Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable listed in May 2022 over concerns of possible wheat and gluten contamination that could pose an allergen risk. Lead Stories also contacted NCC for more clarification over instant noodle concerns.
