Two Cases of Frozen Shrimp Meat for Sushi Exceed Bacterial Standards... Customs Clearance Blocked

MFDS Conducts Import Customs Inspection for Imported Seafood Processed Products for Sushi Use

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Two cases of frozen shrimp meat for sushi used in Japanese restaurants exceeded bacterial count standards and were blocked from customs clearance.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 29th that it took such measures as a result of conducting import customs clearance stage inspections on sushi-use imported seafood processed products from May 23 to June 22 to verify microbial safety.

This inspection was conducted to prevent food poisoning during the summer season. The inspection targets were frozen seafood processed products consumed without heating, and tested for bacterial counts of food poisoning bacteria such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and hygiene indicator bacteria including Escherichia coli. Hygiene indicator bacteria are microbial indicators representing the overall hygiene level of the food production, manufacturing, and distribution environment.

As a result of the inspection, among 31 products from six countries including Vietnam, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Canada, two cases (8,373 kg) of frozen shrimp meat from Vietnam were judged non-compliant due to 'exceeding bacterial count standards.' These products will be returned to the exporting country or disposed of.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to strengthen safety verification procedures by conducting five detailed inspections if the same products are imported into the country in the future.

Additionally, the Ministry advised precautions when using frozen ingredients for sushi at home. When thawing frozen ingredients for sushi or frozen tuna for sashimi at home, it is preferable to thaw naturally in the refrigerator while sealed or thaw under running water. After thawing, consume immediately to prevent bacterial growth, and do not refreeze.

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