"'Please refrain from using the term 'MayakXX' for food products' - Meeting held by MFDS and local governments"

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 17th that it held a council meeting with local governments to discuss measures to reduce the use of the term "mayak" (literally "drug") in food or restaurant names, such as the so-called "Mayak Gimbap."

At the council meeting, cooperation plans to regulate the commercial use of the term "mayak" in food and related areas, as well as education and publicity plans, were discussed. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and local governments expressed agreement on the necessity of regulation and decided to cooperate to prevent the use of the word "mayak."

Front view of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. [Image source=Yonhap News]

To this end, local governments will actively recommend and promote to business operators not to use the word "mayak" in part of the trade name or product name when submitting business registration forms for food service businesses or item manufacturing reports for processed foods.

Additionally, a video prohibiting the use of the word "mayak" will be produced and distributed so that local governments, food hygiene education institutions, and others can use it as educational material to educate and promote awareness among business operators about the inappropriateness of using the term "mayak."

For restaurants and other establishments already using the name "mayak," consumer food hygiene inspectors will visit directly starting in June to guide them to change their business names. Plans are also underway to support costs to alleviate the economic burden on business operators for replacing signs, menus, and other materials.

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