Korea Consumer Agency Investigates Photo Print Cake Management
Unauthorized Azorubine Detected in Some Products
"Proper Management of Decorative Flowers on Fresh Flower Cakes Also Needed"
Recently, personalized made-to-order cakes that print photos or messages using food tech?a portmanteau of "food" and "technology"?have been gaining popularity. However, there are concerns as some photo print cakes have been found to contain colorants that are not permitted for edible use.
The Korea Consumer Agency announced on May 7 that it had investigated the safety and management status of 15 made-to-order cakes?including photo print cakes, fresh flower cakes, and lettering cakes?advertised on social networking services (SNS). The agency found that one photo print cake sold by Hacci Cake, among five photo print cake products tested, contained azorubine, a red colorant not approved for use in food. Azorubine is not authorized as a food ingredient, and exposure to azorubine mixtures has been reported to increase hyperactivity in children under the age of 10, so caution is required.
Additionally, one photo print cake sold by Bonito Cake was found to contain tar colorants exceeding the permitted levels. The businesses selling these two products responded to the Korea Consumer Agency’s findings by submitting improvement plans, which included discontinuing the use of azorubine and reducing tar colorant content.
Furthermore, all five fresh flower cakes investigated were decorated by directly inserting inedible flowers intended for ornamental use into the cakes or attaching their leaves. When decorating cakes with non-edible flowers, stems or leaves should be wrapped in plastic wrap or foil to prevent direct contact with the cake. However, none of the products investigated took adequate measures to ensure this, and the Korea Consumer Agency explained that there is a risk of cakes being contaminated by pesticides used on the flowers, so caution is necessary.
According to the Food Sanitation Act, items that come into direct contact with food must be handled cleanly and hygienically. In particular, substances that are toxic or harmful and may pose a risk to human health are prohibited from being used in business operations. However, none of the 15 products tested were found to contain Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, or Escherichia coli.
Based on the results of this investigation, the Korea Consumer Agency recommended that manufacturers and sellers of fresh flower, photo print, and lettering cakes improve their handling of non-edible decorative flowers and review the types and amounts of colorants used. The agency also plans to request the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to conduct safety inspections of new types of cake products, including fresh flower, photo print, and lettering cakes.
In addition, the agency advised consumers to familiarize themselves with the consultation and ordering procedures, as well as refund policies, when purchasing personalized made-to-order cakes. Consumers should also carefully check the types and methods of decorations and handling, and are encouraged to consume the cakes as soon as possible.
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