Incheon City Strengthens Inspections for Radioactive and Harmful Substances in Seafood... Last Year's Checks Were Favorable

Incheon Fish Market. The photo is not related to the article content. [Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Incheon Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 4th that harmful substance tests conducted on seafood distributed in the region confirmed overall safety.

Last year, 325 seafood samples sold at Sorae Port, Yeonan Pier fish markets, and supermarkets were tested for radioactivity, heavy metals, veterinary drugs, shellfish toxins, and food poisoning bacteria, with 324 samples meeting all standards.

However, one rockfish sample was found to contain trimethoprim, a veterinary drug, exceeding the standard limit, which was immediately reported to the licensing authority, followed by an urgent recall and disposal.

Since the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, the institute has continuously monitored harmful substances, focusing on radioactivity tests of distributed seafood to alleviate public concerns about seafood safety. Radioactivity test results have been published biweekly on the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety website under "Domestic Distributed Food Radioactivity Test Status."

In response to increased public anxiety over seafood safety due to the Japanese government's discharge of radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, the institute has added radioactivity analysis equipment and newly secured government subsidies for seafood safety inspections.

Additionally, the institute plans to strengthen seafood safety management by continuously expanding harmful substance test items, including adding 12 new veterinary drugs such as diaveridine to the existing 50 test items.

Kwon Moonju, director of the Incheon Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, "As public interest and consumption of seafood increase, we will do our best to enhance safety management to provide safer seafood to citizens."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.