Illegally Imported from Taiwan... False Labeling on Products
Pesticide Levels Exceeding Standards Detected
"Refunds and Prevention of Recurrence Promised"
Hyundai Department Store posted an apology regarding the controversy over illegal imports and pesticide residue detection in its tenant 'Drink Store'. Hyundai Department Store website
Hyundai Department Store tenant 'Drink Store' sold oolong tea containing pesticide levels exceeding the standard, prompting the department store to issue an apology and promise refunds to customers who purchased the product.
On the 14th, Hyundai Department Store released an official apology stating, "According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's press release on the 11th regarding the 'Crackdown on Illegal Import and Sale of Taiwanese Oolong Tea and Others,' it was announced that tea products illegally imported from April to September last year were prepared and sold at Drink Store locations in our Trade Center and Jungdong branches, and pesticide levels exceeding the standard were detected in the oolong tea."
They continued, "Currently, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has referred Drink Store to the prosecution on charges of illegal import and sale, and it is expected that the facts will be confirmed through judicial procedures such as prosecution investigations. However, to alleviate customers' concerns and doubts, we immediately suspended Drink Store's operations following the Ministry's related press release."
Additionally, they stated, "To proactively protect customers, we plan to take all necessary measures, including refunds, for customers who purchased Drink Store products at the Trade Center and Jungdong branches during the relevant period. We will also strengthen our quality control system by improving management of tenant brands to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring." Finally, they bowed and apologized again, saying, "We sincerely apologize for causing concern to our customers."
Drink Store's oolong tea without import declaration. Provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
Earlier, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety began an investigation in August last year after obtaining information about the illegal sale of imported tea. The investigation revealed that Drink Store representative Mr. A illegally imported Taiwanese oolong tea and black tea in teabag form via international mail (EMS) for about two months starting in March last year. To evade regulatory inspections, Mr. A falsely labeled the products in Korean to make them appear as legally imported food items.
For about five months thereafter, two cafes located in Hyundai Department Store used these products to prepare and sell tea and beverages. It is reported that a total of 15,890 cups (worth approximately 80 million KRW) of tea and beverages were sold. Notably, pesticide 'dinotefuran' exceeding the standard was detected in the oolong tea samples collected during on-site inspections. Dinotefuran is a type of insecticide that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in cases of acute poisoning.
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