Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
McDonald's Korea tackles consumer agency's sanitary inspection
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An inspector of the Korea Consumer Agency leaves a McDonald’s restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, carrying an ordinary paper bag without an airtight sterilization container./ Courtesy of McDonald’s Korea
By Park Jae-hyuk
By Park Jae-hyuk
McDonald’s Korea has filed a court injunction against the disclosure of the results of the Korea Consumer Agency’s sanitary inspection, the U.S.-based fast food chain said Wednesday.
The agency recently investigated 38 hamburgers marketed by six fast food franchises and five convenience store chains, following lawsuits over alleged undercooked McDonald’s patties.
Five Korean consumers have sued the company so far, claiming their children suffered hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), or the so-called “hamburger disease,” after eating McDonald’s hamburgers.
Although none of the products contained the controversial E. coli bacteria, which is known to cause HUS, the agency found that one McDonald’s hamburger contained staphylococcus aureus above the standard level. The bacterium is a common cause of food poisoning.
The agency initially planned to unveil its findings Tuesday, but scrapped the plan following McDonald’s Korea’s complaint that was applied a day earlier.
McDonald’s Korea criticized the agency for neglecting the required procedures.
“Food hygiene tests should be conducted by trained inspectors who should not hide their identity. A sample should be contained in an airtight sterilization container as well,” a spokeswoman of McDonald’s Korea said.
“However, an inspector, who visited our Gangnam store, pretended to be an ordinary customer. He also carried the sample in a paper bag, not immediately putting it into an airtight sterilization container.”
The spokeswoman also cited the 2014 parliamentary audit reports that pointed out problems of improper sanitary inspections done by the consumer agency and civic groups.
“Last month, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and local governments approved that our products are safe, after dozens of intensive tests,” she said. “The authorities followed the proper measures, unlike the consumer agency.”
The agency denied the company’s claim, saying it held a meeting earlier this month with examinees to explain the inspection methods and listen to their opinions before public announcement of the results.
“We will wait to hear the court’s decision,” a Korea Consumer Agency official said.
The court will decide on the matter Thursday.