"I ordered Ttukbaegi Doenjang-jjigae, but the Ttukbaegi came out from the Doenjang-jjigae"

Claim of Broken Earthenware Pot in Delivery Stew
Customer Dissatisfied Despite Company's Response
Authenticity Disputed: Mistake or Fake?

A claim has emerged that a large piece of earthenware pot was found in a delivered meal. On the 18th, a post appeared on a mom cafe stating, "I ordered doenjang jjigae for delivery, but a broken earthenware pot came." The writer, A, who identified herself as a working mom living in Yongin, said, "I work and find it hard to cook every day, so I often order delivery for dinner, but this is the first time something like this has happened, and I am at a loss," and shared a photo. In the photo A posted with her post, a large piece of earthenware pot was submerged in the doenjang jjigae.

In the photo posted by Mr. A, a broken piece of the earthenware pot was submerged in the doenjang jjigae.
[Photo by Online Community]

A said, "Honestly, when I first saw it, who would have thought there would be an earthenware pot inside? I just thought it was mussels or mushrooms and fed the (small pieces) to my child." The 3-year-old child could not properly chew the ingredients. A said, "I was puzzled, and then I saw an incredibly large piece of earthenware pot inside the doenjang jjigae. Our child ate a piece of the earthenware pot," adding, "My child is precious to me," lamenting.

When A complained to the store, the staff who answered the phone said, "Sorry," and "We cannot provide any help other than a refund." When A said she would send a photo, the staff replied, "No, that's okay. Sorry." A expressed frustration, saying, "I am so at a loss. They say there is nothing more they can do here." It is difficult to verify whether the broken earthenware pot was really in the food or if it was a mistake by the restaurant, as A claimed.

Netizens reacted with comments such as, "I wondered how big the earthenware pot piece could be, but seeing the size, I am speechless," "It's really shocking. You should send the photo and get a proper apology," "At that size, it would be hard to get in without noticing," "An absurd response," "This will cause delivery trauma," and "Is there really a restaurant that makes such a big mistake?"

As deliveries increase, the number of foreign object discoveries also rises

As more people order food delivery, the number of foreign object discovery cases has also increased. The number of reports of foreign objects found in restaurant-prepared food submitted to the Integrated Report Center for Fraudulent and Substandard Food increased from 1,574 cases in 2020 to 2,928 cases in 2022, nearly doubling in two years. The Food Safety Information Service recommends that when foreign objects are found in food ordered from a restaurant, it is important to secure objective evidence to receive compensation. They suggest a three-step action guideline: 'record the situation - preserve the foreign object - report.'

[Photo by Food Safety Information Service]

To claim compensation for foreign objects that entered during the food manufacturing and distribution process, consumers should follow these procedures. First, if a foreign object is found in the food, record the situation and take photos of the foreign object and the food. For example, record specific cases such as "I was about halfway through eating when I felt something hard," or "When I opened the delivery container lid, a foreign object was floating on top." Next, the foreign object should be preserved as evidence in a zipper bag or separate container. Even if there is photographic or memory evidence, without the actual foreign object, an accurate investigation of the cause is difficult.

Afterward, report the case to the Food Safety Information Service call center. When reporting, provide the restaurant's name and address, the ordered food, and the situation in which the foreign object was found. Submitting receipts or payment records helps expedite verification. If the order was placed through a delivery app, you can also report it to the company's customer service. Most delivery apps have a system that immediately notifies the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of consumer foreign object reports received by the app.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducts fact verification and cause investigation and imposes administrative sanctions on restaurants depending on the degree and frequency of negligence. If parasites or metal/glass are found, business suspension ranges from 2 to 7 days; if blades or animal carcasses are found, suspension ranges from 5 to 20 days; for other foreign objects, corrective orders to business suspension for 3 days are imposed.