Reusable Bread and Food Poisoning Kimbap... Red Alert on Hygiene in the Dining Industry

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[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon]As hygiene issues continue among major food service companies?including Korean McDonald's reuse of discarded bread, food poisoning at Cheongdam-dong Manya Gimbap, and a jokbal restaurant in Bangbae-dong that washed feet while washing radishes?the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has accelerated its hygiene inspections of snack food establishments originally scheduled for the fourth quarter and is currently conducting intensive checks. Related industries are rapidly focusing on establishing hygiene management systems while closely monitoring the situation.

On the 11th, Mom's Touch promoted its in-house 'Quality Management Team,' which oversees hygiene and service, to the 'Quality Management Headquarters.' While strengthening internal hygiene inspection processes, they will also commission reputable external organizations to establish a thorough dual monitoring system. Microbial sampling inspections will also be conducted on menus sold at franchise stores. Mom's Touch plans to obtain MFDS restaurant hygiene grade certification for over 1,000 franchise stores by next year. Introduced in May 2017, the hygiene grading system evaluates restaurant hygiene management levels and assigns ratings such as 'Very Excellent' (3 stars), 'Excellent' (2 stars), and 'Good' (1 star) accordingly.

BHC Chicken currently has more than 750 out of approximately 1,500 stores certified with hygiene grades. BHC Chicken expects all its stores to receive hygiene grades by the end of this year. School Food is also expanding its hygiene grade certifications. So far, 24 stores have been certified, accounting for about 30% of all its locations.

Ourhome has launched a Food Safety Center within its Food Research Institute. The Food Safety Center, which integrates the previously separate analysis research, safety, and hygiene management teams, is responsible for hygiene and safety management at Ourhome’s approximately 850 employee cafeterias nationwide and 22 manufacturing and logistics facilities. Ourhome has also decided to conduct ongoing on-site inspections of about 550 primary suppliers, employee cafeterias, and manufacturing and logistics facilities. Its online mall is also included in the hygiene inspection targets.

A franchise industry official said, "Usually, when such food-related issues arise, it is inevitable that other companies will experience sales declines for about one or two months," adding, "Hygiene management must be meticulous to prevent the decline in consumer trust from spreading to the entire industry."