"Fake Hanwoo Beware" ... Daegu City Conducts 'DNA Identity' Tests Ahead of Chuseok

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The Daegu Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 18th that from the 21st to the 29th, it will conduct Hanwoo verification tests and DNA identity tests on beef distributed in the market ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

The institute will use advanced Hanwoo genetic testing equipment to conduct faster and more accurate Hanwoo verification and DNA identity tests on samples randomly collected and requested for inspection by Daegu city and district offices from traditional markets and large supermarkets.

The results of the tests on market-distributed beef and Hanwoo gift sets for Hanwoo mislabeling will be reported to the relevant authorities, and in cases of failure due to Hanwoo mislabeling, complaints and administrative actions will be taken. The DNA identity test will preemptively detect fraudulent sales practices such as mixing lower-grade Hanwoo beef and falsely labeling it as high-grade Hanwoo, fundamentally blocking illegal distribution.

The institute has conducted about 580 Hanwoo verification and DNA identity tests annually on market-distributed beef and beef for school meals. Over the past three years, 1,818 tests have been conducted, identifying 32 cases of failed Hanwoo, making efforts to prevent the distribution of illegal livestock products in advance.

Do Ju-yang, director of the Daegu Health and Environment Research Institute, said, "This Chuseok, due to the prevention of the resurgence of COVID-19, it is expected that the sales of Hanwoo gift sets will increase sharply as people refrain from visiting their hometowns." He added, "We will do our best to ensure consumers can trust and purchase with confidence through more thorough inspections."