Ramen recall after top brand incorrectly instructs users to microwave the flammable paper cup
- Lotus Foods has recalled more than 239,000 of its ramen noodles that come in three flavors
- The company received 12 reports of the cups being extremely hot and/or sparking or catching fire in the microwave
- It had incorrectly been labeled to be microwaved when the correct method of preparation is to fill the cup with boiling water
- A study last month found ramen soups cause one in five childhood scald burns
Hundreds of thousands of ramen noodle packages have been recalled due to fire and burn hazards.
Lotus Foods, based in Richmond, California, issued the voluntary recall after incorrectly instructing users to microwave the flammable paper cups.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the brand received 12 reports of the cups being extremely hot and/or sparking or catching fire in the microwave.
There was a report of one person experiencing a minor burn, but all other reported damage was limited to the noodle cups.
Lotus Foods has issued a voluntary recall of hundreds of thousands of its ramen noodle packages due to fire and burn hazards. Pictured: recalled Red Miso Rice Ramen Noodle Soup
The company had incorrectly instructed users to microwave the flammable paper cups. Lotus Foods received 12 reports of the cups being extremely hot and/or sparking or catching fire in the microwave. Pictured: recalled Masala Curry Rice Ramen Noodle Soup (left) and recalled Tom Yum Rice Ramen Noodle Soup (right)
Each package contained two-ounce ramen noodle soups in paper cups with organic brown rice noodles.
The affected products are sold in three flavors: Red Miso Rice Ramen Noodle Soup, Masala Curry Rice Ramen Noodle Soup and Tom Yum Rice Ramen Noodle Soup.
Consumers are urged to check UPC code can be found the back side of the cup to the left of the front panel.
The codes for each products are as follows: 7 08953 65101 9 for the Red Miso Soup, 7 08953 65102 6 for the Masala Curry Soup and 7 08953 65103 3 for the Tom Yum Soup.
The CPSC reports that the recall involves about 239,000 units that were sold from August 2018 through November 2018 for about $2.50.
Stores and websites that sold the cups include Safeway stores in Northern California, Whole Foods Market, Amazon and Lotusfoods.com
It is not clear in which states the injuries occurred.
Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the recalled soup cups and call Louts Foods during business hours for a coupon to replace the product at 866-330-4390.
The correct way to heat the noodles is to boil water and then pour it into the cup, letting it sit for two minutes before consuming.
Lotus has said it will be relabeling its existing products with a sticker that had updated instructions and warns consumers to not microwave the cup.
According to 2007 study from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, noodle soup can deliver more serious burns because the noodles stick together and cling to skin.
And a study published just last month from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, found that ramen soups cause one in five childhood scald burns, according to CNN.
‘It’s important for us to remember, and for parents to remember, that these are just thin containers with boiling water in them,’ said lead author Dr Courtney Allen, a pediatric emergency fellow at Emory.
‘I think there’s an assumption that these are safer than soups coming out of a stove when, in fact, they’re not.’
Health professionals have urged manufacturers to forego flimsy paper or Styrofoam cups that are tall and thin and package the ramen in short and stocky cups made of cardboard.