Safety Warning for Imported Chinese Food Products: 4 Out of 10 Found Non-Compliant

From Containers and Packaging to Processed Foods,
Violations Found Across All Categories
Chinese Products Account for 305 Cases, Highest Rate of Non-Compliance Among 65 Countries

In the second half of this year, 4 out of 10 imported food products that were denied entry into Korea originated from China. Considering that Korea imports food from approximately 65 countries, this indicates that non-compliance cases are disproportionately concentrated in certain countries.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and related industries on December 12, a total of 747 cases of imported foods were found to be non-compliant between June and December this year. Of these, products from China accounted for 305 cases, the highest number, followed by Vietnam with 70 cases, Thailand and Japan with 35 cases each, and India with 34 cases. The top five countries accounted for 479 cases, representing 64% of the total. Chinese products alone accounted for 40%.

By category, the majority of violations were found in everyday consumer goods such as snacks, processed fruit and vegetable products, utensils, containers, and packaging made of polypropylene (PP), as well as metal cookware. All non-compliant products were either returned or discarded. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety classifies kitchen utensils, containers, and packaging that come into direct contact with food as "imported food" and manages them under the same standards as food products.

▲The Coast Guard is inspecting hazardous food products imported from China.

Chinese Kitchenware: Excessive Levels Detected Across Various Materials

When examining non-compliant Chinese products by type, utensils, containers, and packaging accounted for the largest share. Violations were also found in processed foods and agricultural and forestry products. Problems were identified across a wide range of plastic and metal tableware commonly used in households.

There were cases where plastic tableware, tumblers and water bottles, soft flasks, cutting boards, pots and frying pans, and children's tableware exceeded migration limits. In processed foods, non-compliance was found in bread, snacks, frozen seafood, and seasoned vegetables. Among agricultural products, items such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, medicinal herbs, and mushrooms were found to exceed safety standards.

Most of the hazardous substances detected in Chinese kitchen and food-related products are linked to human health risks. Isocyanates found in plastics are industrial urethane raw materials that can cause respiratory mucosal damage and allergic asthma upon exposure. 1,3-Butadiene is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Primary aromatic amines (PAA), generated during the decomposition of plastics, are suspected mutagens and carcinogens and are strictly regulated in the European Union (EU). The risk increases when migration levels rise during high-temperature cooking, especially if detected in microwave containers, tumblers, or children's tableware.

Many metal kitchenware items were found to exceed the standard for nickel migration. Nickel is a well-known allergen, and lead detected in some products can cause adverse effects such as impaired neurodevelopment and reduced learning ability if accumulated in the body. Cadmium, another heavy metal, can lead to kidney damage and skeletal abnormalities.

Glass products that failed thermal shock tests were also found. This poses hygiene and safety concerns, as such products may break during cooking or allow contaminants to penetrate through microcracks.

Processed Foods: Excessive Reliance on Additives

Various safety issues were identified in Chinese processed foods, including excessive use of preservatives, artificial colorants, microorganisms, and toxins.

Excessive use of preservatives was particularly notable. Sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and dehydroacetic acid exceeded permitted levels in bread, cakes, mooncakes, and sauces. In some products, the concentration of preservatives was higher in the finished product than in the raw materials, indicating inadequate manufacturing process control. Overconsumption of preservatives can cause gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, and allergic reactions, and benzoic acid may convert to the carcinogen benzene under certain conditions.

Violations of colorant standards were also found. Synthetic colorants such as Red No. 102, Red No. 40, and Blue No. 1, which are not permitted or exceeded limits, were detected in products like Latiao, character snacks, colored snacks, and Halloween cookies. Excessive intake of these colorants can cause hyperactivity or allergic reactions in children, raising concerns for products popular among children and teenagers.

Many products exceeded microbial standards. Bacterial counts, E. coli, and Listeria were found above permitted levels in frozen seafood assortments, seasoned vegetables, frozen tofu, and cakes. Listeria is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, infants, and the elderly, making strict management essential. These findings demonstrate that even refrigerated or frozen products cannot be guaranteed safe if manufacturing or distribution processes are inadequate.

In fried foods, acid values indicating rancidity exceeded standards, while in seeds, nuts, and grains, mycotoxins such as aflatoxin and zearalenone were detected. Aflatoxin is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen that causes liver cancer. Some powdered agricultural products also exceeded standards for heavy metals such as cadmium.

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