A POTENTIALLY dangerous claim on a brand of noodles has prompted a warning by the Department of Health. Newspaper advertisements for Tang Ning Health Noodles, which were aimed at diabetics, claimed: ''With continued consumption of Tang Ning for at least one meal a day, diabetics can enjoy any type of food without adverse effects.'' Some diabetics can keep the incurable disease under control by modifying their diet and taking medication. But insulin-dependent diabetics have to follow a strict diet, avoiding certain foods to keep their blood sugar at a safe level, and need regular insulin injections. Failure to inject insulin or to eat properly can lead quickly to coma. Long-term side effects of diabetes, particularly if blood sugar levels are allowed to fluctuate widely, can include blindness, kidney failure and poor circulation. A spokesman for the Department of Health said: ''The advertisement concerning the use of Tang Ning Health Noodles for the treatment of diabetes and coronary heart disease was published in a number of newspapers. The publishers and the agent have contravened the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance. ''Warning letters will be sent to the editors-in-chief of these newspapers and the agent, Profit King Investment. ''Should similar advertisements be published in the future, the case will be referred to the police for prosecution.'' Regulations governing medical adverts were tightened in 1988 to clamp down on ''cure-all'' products. While advertisements for dietary supplements for diabetics are permitted, it is against the law for those adverts to contain potentially misleading information or to make unjustified claims. Ingredients in Tang Ning noodles, manufactured in Wuhan, include flour, soy protein, oatmeal and salt, according to the package. A one kilogram box, which contains 12 servings, costs $160.
