The Korea Consumer Agency stated on the 11th that mold was found in the private brand (PB) beef jerky products sold by a Coupang subsidiary, prompting a sales halt and recall measures.
The agency recently tested the nutritional components and safety of 18 jerky products, as well as investigated product labeling and pricing. As a result, mold was confirmed in one product, leading the agency to recommend a recall and improvement in quality management to the business operator. The problematic product is 'Gomgom Beef Jerky' (manufactured by Hongseon) sold by Coupang subsidiary CPLB, with a consumer expiration date of July 29.
The agency noted, "The business operator has accepted the Korea Consumer Agency's corrective recommendations, completed the product recall and exchange/refund measures, and responded with a plan to strengthen quality management."
According to the agency, there were 38 reported cases related to jerky hazards received by the Korea Consumer Agency from 2021 to 2024. This included occurrences of abnormal symptoms (19 cases) and mold contamination (12 cases).
The Korea Consumer Agency's investigation indicated that there were significant differences in sodium and sugar content among the products.
According to the agency, the sodium content of jerky ranged from 117 to 248 mg, which is 6 to 12% of the daily nutritional standard (2000 mg), while the sugar content was between 0.5 g and 5.6 g, representing 1 to 6% of the daily nutritional standard (100 g). The price differences between products ranged from 416 won to 4,740 won based on the reference serving size (15 g), revealing a maximum variation of 11.4 times.
The agency warned, "Jerky is a semi-dried food with moisture, and if it is improperly distributed or stored, mold may develop, leading to deterioration of the product."