Sempio Dasima Recalled Repeatedly in Europe Due to "Excessive Iodine Detection"

Sempio 'Seommaeul Sun-Dried Dasima' Export Products
Recalled in Belgium, Croatia, Finland, etc.
Excessive Iodine Content... All Products Recalled
Sempio "Testing Content Domestically... No Separate Standards"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Excessive iodine was detected in kelp products exported to Europe by food company Sempio, leading to consecutive recall measures.

According to the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) on the 12th, Sempio's "Seommaeul Fresh Kelp" product sold in various food stores across Belgium this year was recalled on the 25th of last month after iodine content was found to exceed the standard. This product is domestically OEM-produced and sold exclusively for export.

The kelp product with excessive iodine was produced in May last year and exported in July of the same year. It was initially exported to the Netherlands and then distributed to neighboring countries. Out of a total of 120 boxes, 78 boxes were deemed unsuitable for distribution. The detected amount was 3,171 mg per 1 kg, which is relatively high compared to typical standards. The recommended daily iodine intake for adults is 0.15 mg, with an upper intake limit of about 2.4 mg.

Belgium does not have a separate iodine detection standard, but following the European Union (EU)'s recommendation to unify maximum content standards across the region, iodine content exceeding 200 mg per 1 kg is considered unsuitable for distribution. Iodine is regarded as an essential element for the human body, but excessive intake increases the risk of thyroid-related diseases such as thyroiditis, goiter, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism. Approximately 15 to 20 mg of iodine is stored in the body, with about 70-80% of the body's iodine present in the thyroid gland.

Although not yet officially announced domestically, recall measures for the same reason have been identified in other European countries such as Croatia and Finland. Sempio is recalling all affected products and conducting iodine content tests domestically. It is expected to take about two weeks to obtain the test results.

Seaweeds such as kelp, sea mustard, and laver are rich in iodine. In Korea, where seaweed consumption is high, the average iodine intake of the population can reach up to five times the appropriate level.

In Korea, iodine content standards are not separately established because iodine loss occurs during the diverse cooking processes of seaweed. However, European countries, where consumption methods are relatively simple, apply somewhat stricter iodine content standards compared to Korea. For this reason, issues with iodine content in seaweed often arise during customs clearance or export.

A Sempio official stated, "Although there are no established standards, we have always displayed warnings about excessive intake on the product. It is unfair to immediately deem the product unsuitable for distribution solely because it exceeded the recommended amount. We are currently conducting content tests domestically due to the difference in detected amounts from the recommended levels, and we plan to respond based on the results."

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