Yangcheon-gu Conducts Hygiene Inspections at 117 Delivery Food Specialty Stores

On-Site Inspection by Consumer Food Hygiene Inspectors
Inspection by Categories Including Hygiene and Cleanliness Management

Yangcheon-gu Consumer Food Hygiene Inspectors conducting hygiene inspections at a delivery food specialty store. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) will conduct a hygiene management inspection of 117 delivery-only restaurants vulnerable to food hygiene issues during the summer season until the 28th of this month.

Although non-face-to-face delivery-only restaurants are increasing, unlike regular restaurants, most do not have open cooking spaces and are often operated on a small scale, raising ongoing concerns about hygiene deficiencies and inadequate response to complaints, highlighting the need for hygiene inspections to alleviate consumer anxiety.

Accordingly, the district will carry out on-site inspections of delivery-only restaurants led by a field inspection team composed of Consumer Food Hygiene Monitors. Through this, they plan to evaluate and document the hygiene level of the kitchens.

Consumer Food Hygiene Monitors are selected from residents who have graduated from food-related departments or hold relevant certifications and have worked in food hygiene administration for more than one year. After completing designated job training, they are granted this qualification.

The key evaluation items include ▲ hygiene management of delivery food packaging areas ▲ floor management regarding water pooling, food residues, and debris ▲ condition and cleanliness of ceilings, lighting, and walls ▲ management status of food storage spaces and refrigerators/freezers ▲ compliance with personal hygiene such as wearing hygiene caps and masks by workers.

The evaluation score is out of 100 points. If scores fall below the standard for any item, a confirmation form will be immediately collected on-site, followed by hygiene education, corrective actions, and administrative measures. Especially, establishments scoring below 60 points, classified as ‘insufficient,’ will be re-evaluated by officials after an improvement period to ensure thorough follow-up management. Based on the data collected this time, the district plans to build a database by inspection item to conduct systematic management such as selective guidance and inspections of insufficient establishments.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae said, “The hygiene evaluation of delivery restaurants, conducted for the first time this year, is significant not only in assessing the hygiene level of restaurant kitchens but also in suggesting improvements for insufficient areas, enabling business operators to enhance their hygiene management capabilities themselves. We will strive to make Yangcheon-gu a safe district where delivery food can be consumed with confidence.”