17 Cases of Illegal Activities Detected in Businesses Using or Storing Expired Products
Crackdown on Illegal Activities Targeting Over 250 Delivery-Only Businesses Without Seating
The Busan Metropolitan Police Department's Special Judicial Police Division (hereinafter referred to as Special Judicial Police) conducted a planned investigation into illegal activities targeting approximately 250 delivery-only businesses, such as late-night snack delivery shops, which do not have seating areas and operate exclusively through delivery apps. As a result, a total of 17 illegal acts were uncovered.
This investigation was planned because, although the demand for delivery food increased due to COVID-19 and other factors, most delivery-only businesses do not have seating areas, making it impossible for consumers to check the hygiene conditions of the kitchen or the storage status of ingredients. The investigation aimed to crack down on illegal activities exploiting this situation.
Since most of the investigation targets were late-night snack delivery businesses specializing in chicken, pizza, tteokbokki, stews, yukhoe, raw fish, and Chinese cuisine, the investigation was concentrated during nighttime hours.
The Special Judicial Police confirmed that most of the businesses caught in this investigation had their windows covered with tinting film to completely block the view of the business premises from outside, making the management of ingredient storage and hygiene conditions very vulnerable.
Among the 17 illegal acts detected, there were ▲6 cases of using or storing expired ingredients ▲7 cases of severe hygiene violations in kitchens and cooking utensils ▲3 cases of complete omission of meat labeling ▲1 case of falsely labeling domestic origin.
Business operators who used or stored expired products are subject to imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW under the Food Sanitation Act. Operators running businesses with poor hygiene are subject to a fine of up to 5 million KRW under the same law, and failure to label all meat origin information is punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW under the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods.
False origin labeling is punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 100 million KRW under the Act on the Labeling of Origin of Agricultural and Fishery Products.
Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “Ahead of the onsite inspection by the International Bureau of Expositions for the bid to host the 2030 Busan World Expo, we will do our utmost to ensure food safety for citizens.” He added, “Our city plans to continuously crack down on unscrupulous operators arising from the increase in delivery food consumption, and complaints or reports regarding poor hygiene can be made through the Illegal and Substandard Food Reporting Center.”
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