"Increase Seafood Consumption"... School Meal Companies 'In Trouble' Amid Government and Ruling Party Pressure

Protecting Our Sea Verification TF and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
30th Meeting and Win-Win Cooperation Agreement
Request to Expand Supply of Seafood for Group Catering
Related Industry Watching Customer Decisions Closely

As the government and ruling party express concerns over the decline in domestic seafood consumption due to Japan's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, they plan to encourage major catering companies to revitalize seafood consumption. While catering companies sympathize with the intent, they are struggling, stating that they cannot proactively expand seafood supply in their menus without requests from their client companies. Given consumers' concerns about the contaminated water discharge, there are calls for a prior process to verify safety and dispel worries rather than effectively pressuring to promote seafood consumption.

On the morning of the 28th, citizens are purchasing seafood at the Maecheon-dong Seafood Market in Buk-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to related industries on the 29th, the "Protect Our Sea Verification Task Force (TF)," chaired by Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, along with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, will hold a meeting on the morning of the 30th at the National Assembly with catering companies to promote seafood consumption. At this meeting, they plan to discuss ways to expand the use of seafood with each company and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation. Representatives from Pulmuone Food & Culture, CJ Freshway, Ourhome, Samsung Welstory, and Shinsegae Food are expected to attend.

Catering companies are feeling awkward ahead of this meeting. An industry official said, "There is no disagreement with the intention to promote seafood consumption through group catering, but since the structure is to supply ingredients and provide food based on menus requested by client companies, we cannot arbitrarily include seafood in the menu or increase its consumption." He added, "Ultimately, we have no choice but to follow the movements of the client companies."

Another official said, "In group catering, the preprocessing stage of handling ingredients before cooking is complicated and time-consuming, so menus using seafood, including fish, are rarely offered," adding, "Customers also do not prefer this, so it is questionable how effective this measure will be."

As a result, the common voice among catering companies is that to expand seafood consumption through group catering, client companies or organizations that provide meals to employees at workplaces must take the lead. One official predicted, "Since the political and government intentions are clear and there are movements within the industry to participate, major companies will likely soon order to expand seafood consumption."

A merchant is preparing to welcome customers at the Myeongji Market Jeoneo Festival held on the 29th in Gangseo-gu, Busan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Already, major economic organizations such as the Korea Economic Association (formerly the Federation of Korean Industries), the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association, and the Korea Employers Federation have launched campaigns to promote seafood consumption targeting their member companies and requested expanding the supply of domestic seafood, which is at risk of accumulation in production areas, to corporate group catering. However, there are limits to this as well. When employees using the catering services raise concerns about seafood, it is difficult for companies or catering providers to respond.

In fact, at a workplace using multiple catering companies, it is known that some employees have expressed opinions such as "I want to eat menus from companies that do not offer seafood." Furthermore, if seafood is included in menus at elementary, middle, and high schools where catering companies receive orders and supply ingredients, there is a high possibility of backlash from parents. An industry official said, "Realistically, menus will have to be divided into those including seafood and those without, and the choice will be left to the consumers."

Professor Lee Young-ae of the Department of Consumer Studies at Incheon National University emphasized, "When consumers have no other options and sensitive issues are resolved in such a top-down manner, related companies and users inevitably react and confusion arises. First, the focus should be on verifying safety and providing accurate results to reduce market resistance and alleviate concerns."

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