The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 19th that the food manufacturing and processing company True Farm Co., Ltd. in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, has had benzo(a)pyrene detected at levels exceeding the standard in its product "True Farm Flavor Oil," leading to a halt in sales and a recall.
The recall targets the 1.8-liter product with a consumption date marked until July 28, 2026. Benzo(a)pyrene is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the detection standard for benzo(a)pyrene is 2.0 micrograms per kilogram, but the recalled product showed a detection level of 2.5 micrograms per kilogram.
The ministry noted that the Hwaseong City Hall has taken steps to quickly recall the product and advised consumers who purchased it to stop consuming it and return it to the place of purchase.