Made-In-China Mushroom Contained Agricultural Chemicals…. Bolt Piece Was Found in Yellow Corbina

As salted pollack roe added by tar, made-in-China Auricularia mushroom containing agricultural chemicals, and frozen yellow corbina that contained a bolt were found, the consumers have felt uneasiness.

The Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) revealed yesterday that it exposed three food manufacturing companies including the S company that circulated in the market the salted pollack roe added by artificial coloring chemicals which were prohibited to add in the salted seafood.

According to the KFDA, the S company has used the `tar` coloring chemical, which was banned to use for food on the food sanitation law, to produce the salted pollack roe of 10,000 kg (equivalent to 130 billion won, 100,000-500,000 won per 10 kg), and has sold through the traditional markets such as Pusan Jagalchi Market.

The KFDA also said that it returned Auricularia mushroom produced in China, which were found to contain the agricultural chemicals called `Aluminum Posfide` three times since August.

Aluminum Posfide is a highly poisonous powdered insecticide (II class) to kill germs and insects by generating the poisonous gas.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries announced that it found a 3cm-long bolt piece inside a frozen yellow corbina imported from China through Pusan harbor on 16th, and returned the whole quantity (23 ton) of imported yellow corbina.

It is the first case since 7 lead fishing sinkers as long as 3cm were found from three frozen yellow corbinas imported through Pusan harbor in September.

Prior to this, a piece of lead as long as 3cm had been found in frozen hairtail imported from China through Incheon harbor on 8th.

Chul Moon fullmoon@donga.com