Dutch food manufacturer Heuschen & Schrouff has issued a nationwide recall of its Samyang Spicy Chicken Carbonara Cup instant noodles sold at Rewe stores across Germany after tests showed elevated levels of glycidol, a substance classified as potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic.
The recall, announced on April 20, 2026, affects packages with a minimum durability date of August 28, 2026, and batch number HW3. Each package contains six 80-gram cups. Consumers are advised not to consume the product and can return it to any point of purchase for a full refund, even without a receipt.
Glycidol forms during the high-temperature processing of fats and oils. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends minimizing exposure due to its potential to damage DNA and increase cancer risk. The company stated that a health risk cannot be ruled out with final certainty.
How the contamination was detected and what it means for consumers
Heuschen & Schrouff identified the issue during routine internal testing. The company initiated the recall after finding glycidol levels above acceptable thresholds in the Spicy Chicken Carbonara Cup variant. No illnesses have been reported linked to the product so far.
The recall follows a similar action earlier in April involving reduced-fat salami products contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC), which can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and, in rare cases, kidney failure. That recall affected products sold at Kaufland and Edeka.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Why glycidol poses a particular risk in processed foods
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Glycidol is not intentionally added to food but emerges as a byproduct when oils are heated to high temperatures during production. Unlike acute toxins, its danger lies in long-term exposure, making it difficult to trace illness directly to consumption. Regulatory bodies stress prevention over reaction due to the substance’s carcinogenic classification.
What steps retailers and consumers should take now
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Rewe has notified customers via its website and instructed stores to remove the affected batches from shelves. The refund process does not require proof of purchase, aiming to maximize return rates. Consumers should check packaging for the batch number HW3 and date 28.08.2026.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Food safety authorities recommend staying alert for further updates, as recalls can expand if additional batches test positive. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in monitoring contaminants formed during industrial food processing, even under regulated conditions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How can I tell if I have the affected product?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Look for the Samyang Spicy Chicken Carbonara Cup with packaging showing six 80-gram cups, a minimum durability date of August 28, 2026, and batch number HW3. The product was sold nationwide at Rewe stores.
Is it dangerous to have eaten the noodles already?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>No illnesses have been reported from this product. Glycidol poses a potential long-term health risk rather than immediate poisoning. If concerned, consult a healthcare provider, but monitor official sources for updates.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>Heuschen & Schrouff identified the issue during routine internal testing. The company initiated the recall after finding glycidol levels above acceptable thresholds in the Spicy Chicken Carbonara Cup variant. No illnesses have been reported linked to the product so far.
The recall follows a similar action earlier in April involving reduced-fat salami products contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC), which can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and, in rare cases, kidney failure. That recall affected products sold at Kaufland and Edeka.
<!– /wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Why glycidol poses a particular risk in processed foods
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Glycidol is not intentionally added to food but emerges as a byproduct when oils are heated to high temperatures during production. Unlike acute toxins, its danger lies in long-term exposure, making it difficult to trace illness directly to consumption. Regulatory bodies stress prevention over reaction due to the substance’s carcinogenic classification.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>What steps retailers and consumers should take now
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Rewe has notified customers via its website and instructed stores to remove the affected batches from shelves. The refund process does not require proof of purchase, aiming to maximize return rates. Consumers should check packaging for the batch number HW3 and date 28.08.2026.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Food safety authorities recommend staying alert for further updates, as recalls can expand if additional batches test positive. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in monitoring contaminants formed during industrial food processing, even under regulated conditions.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>How can I tell if I have the affected product?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Look for the Samyang Spicy Chicken Carbonara Cup with packaging showing six 80-gram cups, a minimum durability date of August 28, 2026, and batch number HW3. The product was sold nationwide at Rewe stores.
/wp:paragraph> wp:heading>Is it dangerous to have eaten the noodles already?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>No illnesses have been reported from this product. Glycidol poses a potential long-term health risk rather than immediate poisoning. If concerned, consult a healthcare provider, but monitor official sources for updates.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>
