[Column] Blind Spots in Unmanned Stores

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, unmanned stores have been rapidly increasing, but government management and supervision remain lax. Although the products sold and business practices of unmanned stores such as cafes, convenience stores, meal kits, and ice cream shops vary, there is no detailed understanding of their actual status.

Until last year, the government classified unmanned stores under the food vending machine business category, which was originally created to manage coffee vending machines. Hygiene inspections were conducted by local governments nationwide without detailed distinctions, only tracking the number of inspections and compliance status. When this became controversial, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety changed the classification of unmanned stores to rest stops this year. However, upon investigation, it was found that only the business category changed, with no actual improvements. This can be criticized as a mere showy and superficial administrative measure.

In 2021, the Korea Consumer Agency conducted a hygiene management survey on 20 unmanned cafes and study cafes located in the metropolitan area, and the results were truly dismal. General bacteria and coliform bacteria were detected in large amounts from coffee machines and water purifiers. Yet, there were only 13 violations recorded under the food vending machine business category that year. This is the result of the government's complacent response and evidence that management and supervision of unmanned stores are not properly conducted. Currently, unmanned stores widely used by the public are effectively blind spots in hygiene inspections.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety claims to be strengthening hygiene inspections of unmanned stores but excuses the limitations of resources and personnel. This sounds like saying that the current situation can only be maintained unless a large-scale food safety accident occurs at unmanned stores. Nothing is more important than the safety of the public’s food. The government must respond to unmanned store hygiene management to an extent that may seem excessive. To do this, accurate statistical management of unmanned stores must be prioritized first.

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