No.1 Tanghulu Franchise in Korea Caught Violating Food Laws
Self-Quality Inspections Never Conducted Since Production Began
The manufacturing factory of 'Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu,' the number one Tanghulu franchise in Korea, was found to have violated related laws by failing to conduct quality inspections on the ingredients used to make Tanghulu.
On the day of Ewha Womans University festival, students from the Department of Convergence Health Sciences making Tanghulu. [Photo by Yonhap News]
On the 2nd, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) conducted inspections from the 5th to the 13th of last month, together with local governments, targeting 5,892 locations including restaurants inside national parks and highway rest stops, as well as restaurants that prepare and sell Tanghulu, whose number of stores has recently surged. As a result, 12 cases (0.2%) of violations were confirmed.
The inspection revealed violations at food service establishments including ▲unreported general restaurant operation (1 case) ▲violations of operator compliance requirements (2 cases) ▲use of products violating labeling standards (1 case) ▲facility standard violations (1 case) ▲failure to conduct health examinations (6 cases). Additionally, one food manufacturing company supplying raw materials to food service establishments was found to have ▲failed to conduct self-quality inspections and ▲violated labeling standards.
Among the 12 violators, three were the manufacturing factory and franchise stores of 'Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu.' The manufacturing factory of 'Dalkom Nara Alice,' the company operating the 'Dalkom Wangga Tanghulu' franchise, was found to have violated labeling standards (failure to indicate manufacturing date) and failed to conduct self-quality inspections.
The Dalkom Nara Alice manufacturing factory located in Dongnae-gu, Busan, produces other processed products containing sugar, but did not indicate the manufacturing date on these products nor inspect for foreign substances. These products are used to make Tanghulu.
An MFDS official stated, "The product requires a self-quality inspection every three months to check for foreign substances, but no inspections have been conducted since production began."
A Wangga Tanghulu store in Geoje, Gyeongnam, which received and used the problematic products from the Dalkom Nara Alice manufacturing factory, was also found to have used products violating labeling standards (failure to indicate manufacturing date). Another Wangga Tanghulu store in Jinju, Gyeongnam, was found to have failed to conduct health examinations for its employees.
The authorities plan to conduct follow-up inspections within six months after administrative actions by the local governments to verify whether improvements have been made.
Additionally, 284 samples of Tanghulu, hamburgers, sandwiches, hot bars, and other items prepared and sold at restaurants in multi-use facilities were collected and tested for food poisoning bacteria, all of which were confirmed to be safe.
The Tanghulu Craze: Number of Stores Increased from 178 in 2021 to 1,060 by August 2023
Previously, a so-called 'Tanghulu craze' swept among teenagers, increasing the number of food service establishments manufacturing and selling Tanghulu from 178 in 2021, to 245 in 2022, and up to 1,060 as of August this year.
In particular, concerns have been raised about obesity due to excessive sugar intake, as Tanghulu is consumed with a sugar coating on the surface. Tanghulu is a snack made by coating frozen fruit with liquid sugar and letting it harden. Experts point out that Tanghulu, whose main ingredients are sugar (a carbohydrate) and fruit, can have adverse effects on health.
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