The Food and Drug Administration is now going after imported food products without English translations for the ingredients and local labeling.

The move came after the recall of six South Korean noodles products containing carcinogenic substances and the FDA is now collecting samples and testing other noodle products from that country for possible contamination.

FDA acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go said imported products are usually labeled in their native language but importers have the "obligation to put English translation" of the labels.

He noted the labeling should include the name of the products, manufacturer, source and other important details to enable government authorities to track down in case there is a problem with them.

"It is possible that they have permits but they failed to put stickers," Go added.

Last week, the FDA had pulled out Nongshim Negori noodles in hot, multi-hot and mild variations; Nongshim Big Bowl Noodle Shrimp;Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon Bowl Noodle and Nongshim Saengsaeng Udon for containing traces of cancer-causing Benzopyrene.

Go said there are two "active" importers of these products - The Nextrade Philippines and Assi Philippine Trading Corp.

Five other importers have either closed shop or are not trading the pinpointed noodle products. There are 55 brands of Korean noodles but only six brands have been confirmed as the affected brands with Benzopyrene.

As of Nov. 5, FDA inspectors have pulled out 13 boxes and 124 loose pieces of the contaminated noodles.*PNA

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