13 Elderly Care Facilities in Busan Caught Falsifying Origin and Expiration Dates

Chilean pork labeled as domestic product and caught.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jonghyo] On the 27th, the Busan Metropolitan City Special Judicial Police Department announced that it had uncovered 13 meal service centers for vulnerable groups suspected of violating the "Act on the Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products" and the "Food Sanitation Act."

All 13 facilities detected this time are elderly care facilities, categorized as 4 cases of false origin labeling, 2 cases of using expired food ingredients, and 7 cases of non-operation of pest control and rodent prevention facilities and unsanitary management.

Previously, Busan City had been conducting a planned investigation since last month targeting 230 group meal service centers, including elderly care facilities, childcare facilities, and social welfare facilities, which are vulnerable to infectious diseases and food poisoning.

The inspection items included acts of false labeling of the origin of food ingredients such as agricultural, livestock, and fishery products used in meal service centers, intentional damage or alteration of origin labels, use of unlabeled food ingredients, and use of expired food ingredients.

As a result of the investigation, Nursing Hospital A was caught preparing and providing Chinese imported smoked duck meat to patients while falsely labeling the origin board inside the hospital as domestic smoked duck. It was also pointed out for not operating facilities such as insect screens or footbath disinfection tanks to block external contaminants.

Nursing Hospital B used Chilean pork as food ingredients but indicated on the menu and origin board that domestic pork was used. The hospital's refrigerator contained 13 kg of Chilean pork.

Nursing Hospital C also indicated on the menu provided to patients that a mix of domestic and U.S. beef was used, but in reality, only U.S. beef was used and was caught. Upon checking transaction details, it was revealed that no domestic beef had been purchased since January of last year.

Nursing Hospital D falsified the origin of imported octopus, and Nursing Hospital E was caught storing expired fish cakes intending to use them as food ingredients. Nursing Hospital F was also caught storing 3.5 kg of expired pork.

In addition, numerous elderly nursing hospitals with poor hygiene were caught, such as storing side dishes brought from home by cooking staff together with food ingredients consumed by patients.

The Busan Metropolitan City Special Judicial Police Department referred the four facilities that falsely labeled origin to the prosecution for violating the "Act on the Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products" (punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment or a fine up to 100 million KRW). Facilities that used expired products as food ingredients were reported to the respective district offices to impose fines (1 million KRW). Seven facilities with minor violations received on-site corrective orders.

A Busan City official stated, "Group meal service centers serving patients vulnerable to infectious diseases or food poisoning need to be more thorough in managing food ingredients," and added, "We will continue investigations to prevent similar cases and strive to ensure food safety for vulnerable groups."

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