Hospitalized in Emergency Room Complaining of Severe Pain
An American woman complained that she developed severe convulsions, hematuria, and kidney stones after enjoying 'Buldak Bokkeum Myun' (Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen).
"After eating Buldak Bokkeum Myun once a week for 6 months, developed kidney stones... Sodium intake reached half of the daily recommended amount, posing a health risk"
A woman in her 20s from the United States claimed that she developed kidney stones after consuming Buldak Bokkeum Myun once a week for six months. [Image source=TikTok capture]
On the 29th (local time), the Daily Mail referred to a TikTok video by Lucy Morad (24), a TikToker living in Washington State, USA, reporting that "this popular spicy ramen could put you at risk of kidney disease." Morad posted a video on the 14th of last month titled "Buldak, rest in peace. I will miss you, but my kidneys won’t." She also included hashtags such as '#KidneyStones' and '#Mukbang.' In the video, Morad explained that she was hospitalized in the emergency room due to severe convulsions and hematuria symptoms. She also experienced abdominal pain caused by kidney stones. Kidney stones are a condition where stones form in the kidneys and can lead to urinary tract stones if severe.
Morad identified 'Buldak Bokkeum Myun' as the cause of her kidney stones. Having had weak kidneys initially, she ate one Buldak Bokkeum Myun every week for six months before her hospitalization. Although Morad denied it, her boyfriend revealed that she sometimes ate up to 10 Buldak Bokkeum Myun in a week. She also made tteokbokki using Buldak sauce, which she had difficulty obtaining from a nearby Asian market.
David Shussman, a urology specialist, warned, "Buldak Bokkeum Myun contains sodium amounting to half of the daily recommended intake," adding, "Consuming processed foods such as spicy ramen and frozen meals can threaten kidney health." One serving of Buldak Bokkeum Myun contains 1,280 mg of sodium. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.
Morad’s video has nearly 18 million views and over 12,000 comments. Local netizens reacted with comments such as, "I will live as if I never saw this video. I will keep eating until I have to go to the emergency room," "After eating Buldak Bokkeum Myun, I drink 1 liter of water, so I think I’m okay," and "Even if this happens to me, I will still eat Buldak."
US rapper Cardi B also endorses... Buldak Bokkeum Myun causes 'sold-out frenzy' locally
Famous American rapper Cardi B posted a video on TikTok trying Samyang Foods' Carbo Buldak Bokkeummyeon. [Image source=TikTok capture]
Meanwhile, on the 19th, The New York Times (NYT) reported that Samyang Foods’ Carbo Buldak Bokkeum Myun has recently gained popularity, making it difficult to find the product on Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Safeway, and other retailers. Last month, famous American rapper Cardi B posted a video on TikTok eating Carbo Buldak Bokkeum Myun, which became a hot topic. Cardi B, who said she watched many Carbo Buldak videos, drove 30 minutes to get the product. She cooked Buldak Bokkeum Myun herself by adding cheese and milk.
Samyang Foods, the maker of Buldak Bokkeum Myun, recorded overseas sales of 809.3 billion KRW last year, a 34% increase compared to the previous year. This is the first time overseas sales have exceeded 800 billion KRW, and the proportion of overseas sales in total revenue expanded to 68%. The cumulative sales volume of the product also surpassed 5 billion units, with total sales exceeding 1.2 trillion KRW.
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