Harmful Ingredients Detected in Overseas Direct Purchase Products...148 Items Blocked from Import into Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jihwan] Nearly 150 overseas direct purchase (direct import) products were found to contain harmful substances last year. Some children's jelly products were found to contain bovine hoof-derived substances, raising concerns about mad cow disease.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 26th that it inspected the safety of 1,630 overseas direct purchase food items for personal consumption last year and discovered a total of 148 hazardous food products, which will be blocked from entering the country.

Among the hazardous foods, 56 products were found to contain illegal substances such as pharmaceutical ingredients. Products containing bovine hoof-derived substances, raising mad cow disease concerns, numbered 79. Eleven products posed a choking hazard, and two products used unauthorized colorants.

In particular, among 45 children's jelly products tested, nearly half?19 products?were found to contain harmful substances. Cases were also found where bovine hoof-derived substances raising mad cow disease concerns or colorants banned in Korea were used.

Among 40 infant formula products, 18 from Germany and one from Switzerland were found not to meet domestic nutritional standards.

Among 1,174 products claiming 'functional' benefits such as diet, muscle enhancement, and sexual function improvement, 129 products were found to contain illegal substances. Some diet products contained the constipation treatment agent sennoside, and muscle enhancers contained the vasodilator L-citrulline.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to double the number of overseas direct purchase food inspections to 3,000 this year and diversify inspection targets to strengthen safety management.

An official from the Ministry stated, "Products purchased through overseas direct purchase have not undergone formal import procedures, so their safety is not confirmed, requiring special caution."

More detailed information can be found on Food Safety Korea and the Imported Food Information Maru's 'Hazardous Food Block List.'

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