Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect Illegal Activities at 37 Delivery Food Specialty Stores

Gyeonggi Province has uncovered a large number of delivery-only restaurants violating the Food Sanitation Act by storing expired ingredients or failing to comply with preservation standards.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police announced on the 15th that, after conducting an intensive investigation of 360 delivery-only restaurants in the province from March 10 to 21, a total of 37 illegal activities were detected.

Among the major violations, a business in Guri City, referred to as A, stored three types of products including crab sticks and taro stems that were two weeks past their expiration date together with normal ingredients without labeling them as 'for disposal' or 'for training.' Additionally, a business in Guri City, referred to as B, was caught falsely labeling imported pork as domestic pork.

Investigation Results of Illegal Activities at Delivery-Only Restaurants by the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police Unit

A business in Pyeongtaek City, referred to as C, stored sauce, which should be refrigerated, at room temperature inside the kitchen, and a business in Hwaseong City, referred to as D, was caught storing ingredients in a refrigerated warehouse located in an area not registered as part of their business premises during this crackdown.

According to the current Food Sanitation Act, if a business operator violates compliance by manufacturing, processing, cooking, selling, subdividing, transporting, displaying, or storing products or ingredients past their expiration date, or fails to report major changes such as changes in business area, they may face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW. Furthermore, violations of standards related to manufacturing, processing, usage, cooking, or preservation methods of food can result in imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million KRW. False or misleading labeling of origin under the Origin Labeling Act can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

Gi Do, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, stated, "Due to the nature of delivery-only restaurants, which lack dining spaces and have closed cooking areas, they may be vulnerable to hygiene management issues."