Waffle and Sandwich Makers Are Popular... Some Products Fail Safety Standards

Consumer Agency, Safety Inspection Results of 20 Products

Products Not Meeting Total Discharge Safety Standards.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Since the spread of COVID-19, waffle and sandwich makers have gained popularity, but some products coated with fluororesin on the inside have been found to not meet safety standards.

On the 21st, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that after testing the safety of 20 fluororesin-coated waffle and sandwich makers sold on the market, 5 products exceeded the total elution amount (the total amount of non-volatile residues that can come from food utensils) safety standard.

Waffle and sandwich makers have plates that come into direct contact with food, thus falling under utensils according to the Food Sanitation Act. Therefore, according to related regulations, the total amount of non-volatile substances detected when using solvents similar to food such as water, 4% acetic acid, and n-heptane must not exceed the standard (30 mg/L). However, 5 products showed levels ranging from 32 mg/L to as high as 154 mg/L.

The companies selling these products have announced that they will suspend sales and initiate recalls. However, all products met safety standards in tests for lead elution and other inspections. Additionally, all products properly displayed the safety certification (KC) mark and number, as well as usage precautions, in accordance with the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act and other regulations.

The Consumer Agency advises consumers to check whether the waffle and sandwich makers have KC certification and whether the words or designs indicating they are for food use are displayed, and to carefully read the user manual before using the product.

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