MFDS: "Food-grade disinfectants should not be used for pest control or on humans"

Direct Use on the Body Can Cause Irritation to Eyes or Skin

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Minister Lee Ui-kyung) announced on the 16th that consumers need to exercise special caution as food sterilizers or sterilizing disinfectants for utensils, which are permitted as food additives to prevent infection from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), are being misused for disinfection purposes or for human body disinfection.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "Food sterilizers and sterilizing disinfectants for utensils are substances used on food or food utensils, containers, and packaging during the manufacturing, processing, cooking, or preservation of food," adding, "They are not products approved for disinfection or human body disinfection."

Direct use of food sterilizers on the human body can cause irritation to the eyes or skin. In particular, food sterilizers are substances used to sterilize foods such as fruits and vegetables to prevent food poisoning, and seven items including hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and hypochlorous acid water are permitted.

Disinfectants for disinfection purposes must be products approved (for disinfection) or reported (for self-disinfection) by the Ministry of Environment according to the "Detailed Guidelines for the Safe Use of COVID-19 Sterilization and Disinfection Products (Ministry of Environment)," and users must comply with the usage methods and precautions specified in the guidelines. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends not using disinfectants for disinfection directly on the human body.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "We plan to strengthen publicity, including distributing on-site guidelines for sterilizing disinfectants for utensils, to ensure the safe use of food sterilizers and sterilizing disinfectants for utensils and to prevent misuse."

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