Cancer and infertility warning found on popular noodles (3 photos + 1 video)
A dire warning about packages of spicy Korean Buldak noodles recently went viral online. 
It all started with one blogger who bought a package of Buldak noodles at a California store. He turned the package over and read the scary warning. On the back, in fine print, it states that the product may cause cancer and harm the reproductive system.
A video of this discovery quickly went viral on Instagram and TikTok. Millions of people watched the videos and began debating whether their favorite noodles had truly become dangerous.
The video is real, but there's one caveat called Prop 65—a 1986 California law that requires consumers to be warned about any (even microscopic) amounts of substances from a list of 900+ chemicals that are known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.
For Buldak, the causes could be:
Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 6) in seasonings.
Traces of heavy metals (lead, cadmium)—possibly from packaging or seaweed.
Capsaicin (from peppers) in huge doses, but this is not the main factor.
This doesn't mean the noodles "cause cancer and infertility"—the warning is placed to avoid fines (up to $2,500 per violation). Many companies simply add it to all packages globally to avoid the hassle of a separate California-specific label.
Other states or countries don't have such laws, and they don't put labels on packages, even though the noodles and seasonings are identical. Experts (USDA, nutritionists) emphasize that occasional consumption is safe, but noodles are still not ideal due to their high sodium content (up to 1,330 mg per serving—58% of the daily value), fat, and MSG. But if you eat noodles like crazy, you won't be happy.
On social media, users are actively joking about the situation. Some write that even the air in California causes cancer. Others compare Buldak to cigarettes. Noodle fans don't give up and continue to enjoy the spicy taste. In 2025, searches about the connection between Buldak and cancer increased eightfold. Media outlets around the world picked up on the topic and began debating whether they should continue eating these noodles.
