Gyeonggi-do Conducts 'Emergency Inspection' of Food Companies Using Groundwater

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching an investigation into food companies using groundwater.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police announced that, due to the increased possibility of large-scale food poisoning outbreaks caused by rising temperatures this summer, they will conduct a focused investigation on food companies using groundwater within the province from the 17th to the 26th.

The special judicial police will prioritize investigations targeting food service establishments, food manufacturing and processing businesses, and mass catering facilities using groundwater located in Suwon and Hwaseong. If many violations are found, the investigation will be expanded to all groundwater-using companies in the province.

The key inspection points include ▲whether water quality tests have been conducted and the actual management status of groundwater ▲use of unsuitable groundwater as food water ▲unsanitary food handling practices such as using expired food products.

The special judicial police plan to collect processed and prepared foods manufactured using groundwater and request inspections from the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment.

For companies found violating the law, the special judicial police will seize assets and coordinate administrative actions through the respective city or county governments. Additionally, follow-up measures such as facility disinfection and improvement requests will be implemented to preemptively block causes of food poisoning.

In Chi-kwon, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, stated, "Under the Food Sanitation Act, using unsuitable groundwater as food water results in immediate cancellation of business permits or registration, or closure of the business under a one-strike-out policy. Companies caught violating the law will be strictly punished according to relevant regulations."

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