Gyeonggi Province Health and Environment Research Institute: 853 'Lunar New Year Peak Foods' Safety Tests Results Over 99% 'Safe'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The Gyeonggi Province Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 10th that its investigation into 853 'Lunar New Year peak foods' for harmful substances from January 18 to February 5 found all items to be safe except for 3 cases.

This investigation was conducted jointly by the main institute of the provincial health and environment research institute, its Northern Branch, and agricultural and aquatic product inspection offices in Suwon, Guri, Anyang, and Ansan, targeting Korean confectioneries (rice cakes), cooking oils, agricultural and aquatic products and other items distributed in department stores, public wholesale markets, and traditional markets in the province. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on all harmful substances including preservatives, heavy metals, pesticide residues, radioactivity, and antibiotics.

The main institute and Northern Branch of the Health and Environment Research Institute examined 311 processed foods for preservatives, heavy metals, food poisoning bacteria, and product specification compliance, while the agricultural and aquatic product inspection offices in Suwon, Guri, Anyang, and Ansan investigated 542 agricultural and aquatic products for pesticide residues, antibiotics, and radioactivity.

The investigation results showed that 850 items were safe from harmful substances, while 2 honey products from agricultural processed goods failed for 'not meeting reducing sugar standards' and 1 rockfish product from aquatic goods exceeded 'antibiotic standards' as non-compliant.

In the 2 honey samples, the 'reducing sugar' evaluation indicator for honey authenticity was measured at 57.2% and 55.4%, both falling below the 60% standard, and the antibiotic 'trimethoprim' was detected in the rockfish at levels higher than the standard threshold.

The institute reported the 3 non-compliant items to the relevant authorities overseeing the manufacturing facilities and requested administrative measures including seizure and disposal.

Oh Jo-gyo, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, "As a result of conducting safety tests on Lunar New Year peak foods, over 99.6% were found to have no safety issues," and added, "We will continue to conduct ongoing inspections to ensure that foods containing harmful substances do not reach the dining tables of Gyeonggi Province residents."