This article was published on Feb. 19, 2025, at 4:37 p.m. on the ChosunBiz RM Report site.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recently distributed the "Guidelines for Preventing Foreign Substance Contamination" to member companies through the Korea Food Industry Association.
The guidelines include a total of 10 types, such as five types of foreign substances and five types of food products. The foreign substances include insects, mold, metals, hair, and plastic, while the food types include hot pot, chicken, pastry shops, instant cooked food, and baby food. Among them, hot pot, chicken, and pastry shops are part of the restaurant industry. A Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official noted, "As consumers frequently visit hot pot restaurants and chicken shops, the number of these establishments has rapidly increased recently, and the proportion of complaints related to foreign substance contamination has been high, leading to their inclusion in the guidelines."
The Ministry categorized the main pathways for foreign substance contamination in the guidelines as ▲ receiving ▲ worker (personal hygiene management) ▲ pre-processing ▲ storage ▲ cooking (process and environment) ▲ packaging, and shared cases of contamination along with management measures for each process. An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety remarked, "We will continue to conduct foreign substance analysis projects and actively promote measures to assist companies in managing foreign substances."
◇ 119 violations of the Food Sanitation Act among 600 hot pot stores
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 19th, between 2018 and June 2023, there were a total of 119 violations of the Food Sanitation Act among the top hot pot franchise companies based on 600 stores. Specialty hot pot restaurants began emerging in the 2020s targeting Chinese individuals and international students. In 2023 alone, the number of hot pot-related restaurants that received business licenses reached 907. The Ministry stated that over 2,600 establishments opened in the past three years, maintaining a rapid growth trend.
The ingredients used in hot pot amount to 30 types. Domestic hot pot restaurants display the ingredients buffet-style, allowing consumers to choose their desired ingredients, which are then cooked in the pot. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, metal wires were found in noodle or rice cake products, staple pins used in document binders, packaging plastics for frozen meat, and steel scrubs. There were also cases of contamination occurring when ingredients were stored on the floor or pre-processed on the floor.
There were instances of contamination due to poor management of the cooking environment, such as not removing dust or grease from hoods. The Ministry stated, "Due to the characteristics of various ingredients used in hot pot, detailed inspections are necessary. Refrigerated, frozen products and vegetables must be inspected in order. We need to check whether insects are present in the vegetables and whether there are foreign substances like fishing lines mixed with seafood, and ensure that processed foods comply with labeling requirements and that imported ingredients have labels in Korean."
◇ "Food ingredients must be stored at least 15 cm above the ground"
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted inspections of 9,924 chicken delivery points nationwide from 2021 to 2023, identifying 45 violations of the Food Sanitation Act. Violations included failing to conduct health checks and improper handling of food. According to data from the Consumer Report Center in 2022, consumer complaints among chicken restaurants were predominantly about service (40.5%), followed by foreign substances (18.5%). Following foreign substances, complaints were related to gift certificates, quality, and delivery. Notably, the proportion of complaints related to foreign substances by brand was 32.1% for Kyochon Chicken, 26.7% for Goobne Chicken, 16.7% for Nene Chicken, 10.5% for bhc, and 6.5% for BBQ.
The Ministry also reported that the number of incidences of foreign substances detected in foods from confectionery companies has been on the rise from 2018, recording 3,061 cases in 2018, 3,898 in 2019, and 4,044 in 2020. While half of coffee shops close within three months of opening, pastry shops are found to operate for an average of nearly nine years. The Ministry stated that the domestic pastry market continues to grow as the number of single-person households increases and eating habits change.
Similar to hot pot companies, chicken stores and pastry shops also experienced contamination due to stored food ingredients being left on the floor or pre-processing done on the floor. Instances of insects being mixed in natural products like green onion or onion were also discovered. Cases of broken storage containers or cooking utensils, parts like screws dislodging from kitchen appliances and mixing into food were noted. Additionally, it was commonly pointed out that workers did not wear hairnets or wore them incorrectly, and left smartphones or cigarettes in the kitchen, leading to contamination.
The Ministry stated, "Food ingredients must be stored at least 15 cm above the ground, and proper handwashing should be conducted before handling ingredients, not just rinsing with detergent under running water but also ensuring disinfection." It also added, "Aged cooking utensils and storage containers must be discarded, and cleaning cloths and rags should be adequately provided for use and storage."