Increasing Food Deliveries Amid COVID-19... 12-Fold Rise in Food Sanitation Act Violations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As high-intensity social distancing measures have been maintained due to COVID-19, the demand for food delivery has increased, leading to a surge in delivery restaurants. At the same time, the number of violations of the Food Sanitation Act detected has increased by as much as 12 times.

According to the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee member Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party, who received the 'Status of Violations of the Food Sanitation Act by Delivery Restaurants Nationwide (2019~July 2021)' report from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the national audit on the 8th, the number of Food Sanitation Act violations by delivery restaurants surged 11.9 times from 328 cases in 2019 to 3,905 cases last year. The number of violations from January to July this year also increased significantly to 2,390 cases.

Over the past three years, the reasons for violations of the Food Sanitation Act were led by 'Violation of Standards and Specifications' at 22%, followed by 'Violation of Operator Compliance Requirements (20%)', 'Failure to Complete Hygiene Education (14%)', 'Failure to Conduct Health Checkups (12%)', and 'Violation of Hygienic Handling Standards (11%)'.

This data was compiled based on the number of Food Sanitation Act violations detected after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety received lists of delivery restaurants from delivery platforms, conducted on-site inspections through local governments, and verified through the Food Administration Integrated System and local government confirmations.

Nam In-soon, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Representative Nam said, "As more people have turned to delivery food due to COVID-19, the number of delivery restaurants has increased, and the number of Food Sanitation Act violations has continuously risen. We must make every effort to improve food sanitation levels and create a safe food environment." He emphasized, "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety should expand the personnel responsible for food sanitation inspections to ensure regular and follow-up inspections of delivery restaurants are properly conducted."

To this end, Representative Nam urged, "Although there are 250,000 delivery restaurants registered on delivery platforms nationwide, only 8,909 establishments have been designated with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's certified 'Restaurant Hygiene Grade.' It is necessary to expand incentives for the restaurant hygiene grading system to encourage participation from delivery food businesses."

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's certified restaurant hygiene grading system evaluates the hygiene status of restaurants every two years and assigns grades such as 'Excellent,' 'Good,' and 'Fair' only to outstanding establishments.

According to the 'Number of Registered Delivery Platform Businesses by Year' submitted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the number of delivery restaurants collected through delivery platforms was 48,050 in 2019, 149,080 last year, and has increased to 254,373 (excluding duplicates) this year.

On the other hand, the number of establishments designated with a restaurant hygiene grade was 3,125 in 2019, 9,991 in 2020, and 8,909 as of August 2021.