Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Investigate 60 School Meal Packaged Meat Manufacturers for Illegal Activities

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is conducting a focused investigation into illegal activities targeting packaged meat manufacturers supplying school meals within the province.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced on the 14th that from the 20th to the 24th of this month, they will carry out a concentrated investigation into illegal activities at 60 packaged meat manufacturers supplying elementary, middle, and high schools in Gyeonggi Province as well as Seoul and Incheon.

Previously, the head of the Special Judicial Police conducted an investigation last year following reports of illegal activities by packaged meat manufacturers supplying school meals and confirmed multiple violations. Considering that most packaged meat manufacturers supplying school meals in the metropolitan area are based in Gyeonggi Province, this investigation will target the actual manufacturers rather than the suppliers.

The main investigation points include ▲ storing products past their expiration date without labeling them as 'for disposal' ▲ failing to comply with storage temperature requirements ▲ producing and selling refrigerated products using frozen raw materials ▲ falsely labeling the origin of products.

Under the current "Livestock Products Sanitation Control Act," storing products past their expiration date without 'for disposal' labeling, failing to maintain proper storage temperatures, and producing and selling refrigerated packaged meat using frozen raw materials are punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

Additionally, the "Act on the Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products" stipulates that falsely labeling the origin can result in imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

Kim Min-kyung, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police, emphasized, "Packaged meat supplied to school meals is mostly produced by a small number of manufacturers and supplied to many schools. Through this investigation, we will work to prevent illegal activities by packaged meat manufacturers and ensure safe school meals."

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