Orion, Haitai fined for importing chemical-sprayed potatoes
Haitai Confectionary & Foods Chairman Yoon Young-dal
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Two of the nation's top confectionary firms' popular potato chip products have been found to contain an unauthorized plant growth inhibitor, the government said.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Thursday, Orion and Haitai Confectionary & Foods were found to have used 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthalene in their imported potatoes. The germination inhibitor, which is used to prevent sprouting of stored potatoes, has yet to be approved in Korea.
Authorities said they managed to detect the substance before their products were distributed to the Korean market. It decided to fine Orion 25.69 million won while suspending its business for seven days.
Haitai also received a seven-day business suspension starting April 3.
Of 1,300 tons of frozen potatoes Orion imported from the U.S., the ministry detected a maximum of 0.119 milligrams of 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthanlene per kilogram on Jan. 23.
Haitai also imported 300 tons of frozen potatoes. Of them, a maximum 0.2486 milligrams of 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthanlene was found to be contained in the imported potatoes.
“The 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthanlene isn't a toxic substance and does not contain cancer-causing agents, but the ministry has yet to approve its use in producing confectionaries here considering the substance's possible side effects,” a ministry official said.
Orion and Haitai immediately terminated contracts with their U.S. partner firms that exported the frozen potatoes containing the chemical.
“The frozen potatoes containing unauthorized germination inhibitor were weeded out at the customs clearance, never distributed to our local chain,” an Orion official said.
“We immediately canceled our contract with our U.S. supplier. We will do our best to provide quality products for our customers.”
Haitai also blamed its U.S. supplier.
“It was the supplier's mistake. We immediately terminated the contract with the firm,” a Haitai official said.
“We have filed a lawsuit against the company for the damages.”
The country's confectionary firms have raised their product prices due to surging prices of ingredients.
Haitai raised the price of its most popular products by an average 12.7 percent, while Lotte Confectionery also jacked up its prices. Other food manufacturers and bakeries are expected to follow since global wheat prices have risen steeply due to a drought that hit the U.S and Australia last year.
The two countries provide 93 percent of the wheat imports to Korea.