Maeil Dairies apologizes over accidental mixing of cleaning solution in milk product
An employee checks the returned sterilized milk products to investigate on the issue involving the mixing of cleaning solution in one of its sterilized milk products during production, Gwangju, Dec. 16. Yonhap
Maeil Dairies, a major dairy product manufacturer, on Monday issued an apology over an accident involving the mixing of cleaning solution in one of its sterilized milk products during production.
Maeil Dairies CEO Kim Seon-hee said in a statement posted on the company website that a valve operation error momentarily caused cleaning solution to mix with the 200 milliliter sterilized milk product at the company's manufacturing plant in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 19.
"We sincerely apologize to our customers who have been shocked by this issue," Kim said.
The company said about 50 units delivered to a single specific client were affected by the incident.
The issue came to light after some employees at a major corporate research center reported symptoms, such as stomach pain and discoloration, after consuming the product provided through the company cafeteria last Thursday.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it was conducting an on-site investigation into the case with local authorities to find the cause of the incident.
"We will appropriately respond under related laws when the investigation results come out," the food safety agency said. (Yonhap)