By The Straits Times | Created at 2024-12-16 07:22:02 | Updated at 2024-12-16 09:32:01
2 hours ago
A leading dairy manufacturer in South Korea has recalled 10,000 units of its milk products after it was contaminated with cleaning solution during production, according to local media.
Maeil Dairies apologised on Dec 16 for the mistake, adding that the product - Maeil Milk Original 200ml - with an expiry date of Feb 16, 2025 was affected, Yonhap reported.
A valve operation error at the company’s manufacturing plant in Gwangju caused cleaning solution to be mixed with milk on Sept 19, said its chief executive Kim Seon-hee in a post on the manufacturer’s website.
“Abnormalities in quality were discovered in some products, prompting the decision to voluntarily recall them... We sincerely apologise to our customers who have been shocked by this issue,” Ms Kim said.
About 50 units delivered to a single specific client were affected by the incident, according to Yonhap.
The contamination was discovered after several employees of a corporate research centre reported stomach pain after consuming milk products provided by the company cafeteria on Dec 12.
One of the employees who drank the affected product vomitted blood and was hospitalised, South Korean media Chosun Biz reported.
Photos of an unknown brown liquid coming from one of the milk cartons spreading on social media escalated fears among South Koreans.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Dec 16 said it will conduct on-site inspections at the manufacturer’s plant in Gwangju, located in the south-west corner of the country.
Maeil Dairies added that other products manufactured in the same production line had no issues upon further inspection.
It said it has improved its software system to prevent errors and will continue to strengthen its quality and safety management system with local and foreign equipment specialists.
US-born chef Edward Lee, who finished second on Netflix cooking competition Culinary Class Wars, was named the ambassador of Maeil Dairies in November.
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