"Scared to Even Drink Tea"…Repeated Detection of 'Iron Powder' in Imported British Black Tea in Korea

Metallic Foreign Substances Found in 3 British Car Brands
Detected Levels Over 4 Times the Standard... MFDS Orders Recall

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Metal shavings exceeding the standard levels have been repeatedly found in black tea products from well-known foreign tea brands imported into Korea, leading to recall measures.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 28th, metal foreign substances containing heavy metals were recently detected in products from three famous overseas tea brands. Specifically, metal shavings were found in products from three brands: Twinings, Tetley, and Ahmad Tea. All are well-known British black tea brands. These products are frequently used in high-end hotel buffets in Korea.

Foreign substances were found in Twinings' Earl Grey tea product, Tetley's Earl Grey tea and black tea products, and Ahmad's peppermint lemon tea product. According to domestic standards, metallic foreign substances must be less than 10 mg per 1 kg, but these products contained foreign substances ranging from 35.8 mg to as much as 41.1 mg, more than four times the limit. The MFDS believes that the metal shavings detected in the tea bags originated from the pressing process during tea leaf grinding. The MFDS also confirmed through manufacturers that such a process had taken place.

The MFDS has issued a recall order for the affected products and is currently recalling all of them. In addition to the products in which foreign substances were detected this time, the MFDS is investigating whether previously imported identical products contain foreign substances. Furthermore, correction orders have been issued to the importers of these products. Department stores have also stopped selling or recalled the products. Similarly, general stores such as CJ Olive Young that sell these products have suspended sales. However, some online malls and secondhand markets still appear to be selling these products, so caution is advised.