South Korea imported more than 3,000 tons of foods containing more than the permissible level of residual chemicals over the past five years, government data showed Tuesday, amid concerns over a lack of adequate measures to prevent the inflow of the harmful products. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea imported more than 3,000 tons of foods containing more than the permissible level of residual chemicals over the past five years, government data showed Tuesday, amid concerns over a lack of adequate measures to prevent the inflow of the harmful products.
The amount of contaminated food imports reached 3,201 tons between 2013 and August this year. The total breaks down to 146 tons in 2013, 1,615 tons in 2014, 617 tons in 2015, 555 tons in 2016 and 268 tons for the Jan-August period this year, according to the statistics provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
By item, mango topped the list, followed by kaffir lime leaf, cumin, banana and leached tea.
China was the biggest exporter of the contaminated products, trailed by India and Vietnam.
Rep. Song Seog-jun of the major opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) called on the government to inspect food imports more thoroughly, both when going through customs and at the country of origin.
(Yonhap)
