Seoul announced on the 2nd that it will conduct a “Chuseok holiday food distribution and sales inspection” for over 5,000 stores until October 2, to ensure citizens can purchase foods with confidence ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
The inspection of agricultural, fishery, livestock products, and processed foods will be conducted from September 3 to 12, and the inspection of origin will be conducted from September 15 to October 2. This initiative was prompted by increased consumer anxiety due to the recent hot and humid weather, which heightened food poisoning risks and led to recalls of non-compliant food products.
The inspection will be carried out in a public-private joint manner involving Seoul City, district offices, and consumer food hygiene inspectors. The targets include establishments involved in manufacturing and selling holiday ritual and gift foods like livestock products, health functional foods, fruits, vegetables, fish, rice cakes, traditional sweets, sesame oil, and venues associated with food poisoning concerns such as bars, fried food stalls, and raw fish restaurants. A total of 1,150 places are being prioritized, including department stores, large markets, and traditional markets.
The main inspection items include unregistered food manufacturing and sales, handling of expired products, unsanitary management, failure to conduct health examinations for employees, violations of preservation and distribution standards, false labeling of Korean beef, and violations of the livestock traceability system.
In addition to the inspection, over 390 samples of heavily consumed holiday foods will be collected for precision testing of pesticide residues, heavy metals, and foodborne pathogens. Domestic beef will undergo authenticity verification through Hanwoo confirmation tests and DNA identity tests to prevent any mislabeling of origin.
The focus will also be on inspecting 4,000 places, including traditional markets and large supermarkets, for any omissions or misleading labeling of the origin. Agricultural and livestock products suspected of false labeling will also be collected and tested concurrently.
Any businesses found in violation will face strict administrative actions and fines. Non-compliant products will be immediately recalled and discarded to prevent circulation.
In the inspection of New Year’s Day holiday foods this year, a total of 1,943 places were checked, and 24 cases (1.2%) were detected and subjected to administrative actions and fines.
Yang Kwang-sook, head of Seoul’s Food Policy Division, stated, “Through proactive management of holiday foods before the Chuseok holiday, we aim to prevent safety accidents and create a safe food environment for citizens, enabling them to enjoy a healthy and abundant holiday with their families.”