Macaron Company Caught Using Tar Dyes After Claiming to Use 'Natural Colorants'

Use of Prohibited Food Dye 'Azorubin'
Some Companies Fail to Label Allergens
MFDS Takes Administrative Action and Files Charges Against 10 Businesses

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 13th that it has identified 10 businesses that falsely labeled and advertised using synthetic colorants called 'tar dyes' in macarons as if they were using natural colorants.

Macarons seized during the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety crackdown.
Photo by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

From May 16 to June 29, the Ministry conducted focused inspections on 20 businesses advertising and selling "macarons made with natural colorants" on online shopping malls and other platforms to verify the appropriateness of labeling standards.

The main violations detected included ▲using tar dyes but falsely labeling and advertising them as natural colorants ▲selling macarons manufactured using 'azorubin,' a substance not permitted for use in food ▲failing to display precautionary information for consumer safety despite using allergenic ingredients such as eggs and milk.

Among those caught using tar dyes, four businesses reported their products as using natural colorants during item manufacturing registration or advertised the use of natural colorants while actually using tar dyes. Additionally, a bakery located in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam Province, was found to have used azorubin as a red colorant in macaron production, which is prohibited for food use.

Furthermore, when using allergenic ingredients such as eggs, milk, or wheat, businesses are required to provide an allergy information section clearly distinguishable from the background color to separately indicate these ingredients for consumer safety. However, some businesses violated this rule as well. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has requested administrative actions from the relevant authorities and filed complaints against the identified businesses.

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