In celebration of kimchi season, inspection of imported foods is strengthened... Disposal of nonconforming products

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced from the 9th to the 20th that it will strengthen inspections at the customs clearance stage for imported agricultural and marine products and processed foods whose consumption increases during the kimchi season, and will collect and inspect kimchi ingredients distributed domestically.

The main inspection targets are agricultural products such as cabbage, peppers, radishes, onions, and ginger, marine products such as freshwater shrimp, salted shrimp, and dried shrimp, and processed foods such as pickled cabbage, fish sauce, red pepper powder, and salt.

In particular, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that it continues to test formaldehyde at the customs clearance stage for Chinese cabbage and pickled cabbage.

Last August, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety strengthened inspections of Chinese cabbage after it was revealed that formaldehyde was used to maintain the freshness of cabbage in some rural areas in China.

This year, equipment and containers such as kimchi mats, peeling knives, and kimchi containers will be included in the distribution stage inspection to confirm safety.

In the case of food, the inspection items include 514 types of pesticide residues, heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, veterinary drugs, preservatives, tar color, and E. coli.

For utensils and containers, the standards and specifications for each material are intensively examined.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to return or discard imported food that is determined to be unsuitable at the customs clearance stage, and to recall and dispose of nonconforming products confirmed at the distribution stage.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, “We will strengthen the safety management of imported foods whose consumption increases at certain times, such as during the kimchi season, to create an environment where people can consume food with confidence.”