There is controversy over claims that foreign substances, suspected to be flies, were found in unopened bottles of Chinese liquor.
According to Yonhap News, on the 30th of last month, a resident of Incheon, identified as Mr. A, claimed to have found a foreign substance in a bottle of liquor he had ordered at a restaurant in Seoul in September of the year before.
Mr. A stated, “I noticed a strange object in the bottle, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a dead fly. Since I hadn’t opened the bottle yet, it was clear it was originally in there.”
In the released photos, an unopened liquor bottle contains a black object presumed to be an insect. This object, roughly 0.8 inches long with an elongated snout, six legs, and a pair of wings, is believed to be a fly.
The liquor in question is produced in a local factory in China and is distributed in Korea through an importer. Mr. A claimed he contacted the importer about the issue but only received an indifferent response.
The importer stated they had planned to actively take follow-up measures, such as conducting a thorough investigation through product recall and discussing compensation after receiving the complaint. However, they claimed the other party was uncooperative in resolving the issue and demanded an excessive financial compensation of 100 million won (approximately $75,000).
On the other hand, Mr. A countered, “The 100 million won comment was made by the owner of the restaurant that sold us the alcohol to the importer intending to say, ‘Compared to the Chinese brewery urination case, 100 million won in compensation would not be a waste,’ not by me,” adding, “I never suggested a specific compensation amount.”
He further stated, “I have never proposed a specific compensation amount. The importer keeps treating me like a malicious complainant and distorting my intentions. That’s why I decided to report it, regardless of compensation.”
Manufacturers or restaurants found guilty of mixing foreign substances can be penalized for violating the Food Sanitation Act. Current law stipulates that it is prohibited to manufacture, import, process, use, cook, store, distribute, transport, preserve, or display food or food additives that do not meet standards and specifications for sale or with an intention for sale.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issues administrative measures such as corrective orders, suspension of product manufacturing, and product disposal to violating manufacturers depending on the degree of fault and foreign substances. Related persons in charge can be sentenced to under five years or a fine of less than 50 million won (approximately $37,500). However, if the cause and responsibility of the foreign substance are not clarified, it isn’t easy to hold the company or store accountable.
This is not the first controversy over foreign substances in Chinese food. Last year, a video of a man urinating in the ingredients at a Tsingtao beer factory, one of China’s top four beer brands, was released, sparking controversy.
Professor Seo Kyung Duk of Sungshin Women’s University emphasized, “Safe food is a critical issue directly related to the people’s health. We need to investigate more thoroughly when importing food from China.”
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