Videos on TikTok have claimed that Instant Ramen has a deadly bacteria which has killed five children. In reality, this isn’t what happened. There is a 12-year-old boy who died in India and whose family was hospitalized with him. Before their symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, they were enjoying a meal of instant ramen. After falling ill they went to the hospital and the symptoms left. They then returned and were too severe in the boy. The family was able to remain stable. The cause of death for the boy is under investigation, but currently, they are leaning towards food poisoning. By food poisoning, I mean there could have been an issue cooking them all the way through, cross-contamination with raw food, and improper storing. While ramen is a quick meal often enjoyed without thought there are a myriad of things that can go wrong in the preparation. Food poisoning from any of the listed methods could have caused the illness and death of the boy. So to stamp down your worries, there is no bacteria in ramen. Neither the CDC nor the FDA haven’t released an announcement or a recall of ramen based on deadly bacteria. Concerning the video it has been taken down by the creator. There is however a recall on the ramen brand “Sun Noodle” which had undeclared egg in it. On the poison or deadly bacteria front, we are clear.

Sources: FDA-Sun noodle, Verify-bacteria tiktok claims,SKPOP- Ramen death fact check, Food poisoning new-deaths after ramen