Mega Coffee Limited Edition 'Minions Straw' Exceeds PVC Standard by 18 Times

PVC Total Emission Exceeds Standard by 18 Times
Mega Coffee Suspends Sales and Recalls Affected Products

Mega MGC Coffee's ambitious 'Minions' collaboration product, the 'Minions Straw,' was found to have a total polyvinyl chloride (PVC) leaching amount exceeding the standard by more than 18 times.

Miniions Straw of Mega MGC Coffee. (Limited Edition)
Photo by Mega MGC Coffee

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 11th, the 'Minions Straw & Cover' imported from China was detected with a total PVC leaching amount of 2705 mg per liter based on n-heptane. The product was sold at Mega Coffee stores nationwide. Following the MFDS announcement, Mega Coffee has suspended all sales of the product.

The standard limit for total PVC leaching is 150 mg. This measurement is based on the amount of substances from PVC that leach into a solution, and the product was found to exceed the standard by 18 times.

Plasticizers that soften plastic are used in PVC materials, and phthalate-based plasticizers, if exposed to the human body beyond the standard limit, are known to cause hormonal disorders or, in severe cases, adversely affect childbirth.

Accordingly, the MFDS announced on the 6th that the product was deemed non-compliant and plans to either return or dispose of the product.

Mega MGC Coffee's Chukapoka Minions Party Whole Cake.
[Photo by Mega MGC Coffee]

Meanwhile, Mega Coffee had been conducting a year-end promotion since the 7th, selling limited edition cakes, beverages, and goods including the 'Minions Straw & Cover' in collaboration with Universal Studios' Minions.

Minions are globally popular characters, and since these products were sold exclusively at Mega Coffee, franchise stores continued to place orders to the extent that the headquarters had no remaining stock. However, following the MFDS recommendation, Mega Coffee announced it would suspend all sales and proceed with product recalls.

Mega Coffee stated, "The Minions collaboration goods were supplied by a company designated by Universal Korea, the character rights holder," and added, "We will take follow-up actions based on the MFDS results and initiate legal measures against the company responsible for product supply and import."