MFDS uncovers 11 packaged meat and patty companies violating Livestock Products Hygiene Control Act

6 Locations Without Health Checkups and 3 Locations Without Employee Self Hygiene Training

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 29th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that it had identified 11 companies violating the "Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act" after inspecting local governments and meat packaging processing companies.

To ensure the safety management of packaged meat, the Ministry inspected 777 meat packaging processing companies producing packaged meat and hamburger patties from the 15th of last month to the 4th of this month.

The violations included 6 companies failing to conduct health examinations, 3 companies failing to conduct employee hygiene training, 1 company failing to report product manufacturing, and 1 company not wearing hygiene caps, totaling 11 companies.

The relevant local governments will take administrative actions against these companies. Subsequently, the Ministry plans to reinspect these companies within six months to verify whether improvements have been made.

Meanwhile, the Ministry collected 132 samples of packaged meat produced by the inspected businesses and tested them against standards and specifications. The test results showed all samples met the criteria for preservatives, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and other items. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli is a pathogenic E. coli that causes hemolytic uremic syndrome, commonly known as "hamburger disease."

A Ministry official stated, "We will promote the phased mandatory application of the Livestock Products Safety Management Certification Standards (HACCP) to meat packaging processing companies and conduct inspections in cooperation with local governments to ensure that livestock products are safely distributed and consumed."

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