Violation of Unreported Business Operation, Prohibition of Distribution, and False Labeling of Meat Cuts
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The special judicial police of Gyeongsangnam-do have uncovered six companies violating the Food Sanitation Act and the Livestock Products Sanitation Control Act.
The special judicial police announced that from May 23 to June 10, they conducted inspections on 31 home meal replacement (meal kit) manufacturing and sales businesses within the province.
They reported that they identified ▲3 unregistered businesses ▲1 violation of distribution prohibition ▲1 case of failure to prepare documents related to production and work records and raw material inventory records ▲1 case of false labeling of meat cuts, and are investigating the specific circumstances of these violations.
According to the special judicial police, the three companies caught for unregistered operations had not filed business registrations for distribution specialty sales or livestock product distribution specialty sales, yet commissioned food manufacturing and processing as well as meat processing at food manufacturing facilities.
They are suspected of manufacturing and processing ready-to-cook foods such as seasoned meat sauces, galbitang (beef short rib soup), and clam kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), labeling them with their own brand, and selling them online as well as supplying about 30 offline stores they directly operate.
Additionally, cases were uncovered where ready-to-sell manufacturing and processing businesses distributed products to other meal kit franchise stores, and where food manufacturing businesses sold products to franchise stores without preparing documents related to production, work, and raw material receipt, shipment, and usage.
A meat sales business was also caught for purchasing relatively inexpensive Korean beef front leg and sirloin cuts, falsely labeling them as Korean beef brisket, and deceiving consumers by selling brisket at a lower price.
Kim Eun-nam, head of the Social Disaster Division, stated, “With the increase in home meal replacement distribution and rising food ingredient prices and inflation, illegal activities such as unregistered operations stemming from business owners’ complacency have been occurring,” adding, “We will continue to thoroughly crack down on illegal activities to ensure the safety and health of the residents’ food.”
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