Appeared on Broadcast Calling It a 'Superfood'... But It Turned Out to Be Mixed with Iron Powder

Jeju District Prosecutors' Office Arrests Tiger Nuts Processing Company CEO
Powder Product Contains 26 Times the Allowed Amount of Metal Powder Detected

A group was arrested and indicted for promoting and selling processed foods containing metal contaminants (iron powder) at levels dozens of times higher than the Food Sanitation Act standards as 'superfoods.'

According to a Yonhap News report on the 3rd, the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had arrested and indicted former CEO A and employee B of a processing company in Jeju on charges of violating the Food Sanitation Act. They are accused of importing tiger nuts raw materials from overseas, cultivating and harvesting them in Jeju, and manufacturing and selling products from June 2020 to last February without registering as a food manufacturing and processing business, earning unfair profits worth approximately 76 million won.

Tiger nuts, also called 'chupa,' are often mistaken for nuts due to the name 'nut,' but they are not nuts; they are perennial plants widely cultivated in the Mediterranean region. Tiger nuts contain high amounts of plant-based protein and dietary fiber, earning the nickname 'almonds underground.' They have recently gained attention in Korea for their benefits in dieting and relieving constipation.

The suspect promoting tiger nut processed foods covered in iron powder on terrestrial broadcasting [Image source=Yonhap News]

A and others promoted tiger nut processed foods made in unsanitary manufacturing conditions, including mold growth, as 'Jeju products' through terrestrial broadcasting and sold them in large supermarkets and nursing homes in the province. They also labeled their uncertified products with terms like 'organic' and 'pesticide-free' on product descriptions.

Furthermore, in July 2020, A and others requested a component test on tiger nut powder and knew that the metal contaminant (iron powder) levels in the powder exceeded the Food Sanitation Act standards but continued to sell the products without addressing the issue. When the police requested a component test of the company's finished products from the Jeju Provincial Institute of Health and Environment, the metal contaminant level in the powder product was found to be 26 times higher than the legal limit. They also tested the oil product, which showed an acid value?a freshness indicator?15 times higher than the normal standard.

Experts warn that even small amounts of continuous iron powder ingestion can cause damage to the digestive system and liver. As a type of heavy metal, accumulation in the human body may lead to weakened immunity and neurological disorders.

A representative from the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office stated, "We will do our best to maintain the prosecution so that the defendants receive punishments commensurate with their crimes and that the criminal proceeds are recovered to the national treasury."

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