Cold noodles, summer dishes tainted with E. coli up to 50 times safety limit

A hygiene inspection is carried out at a restaurant in Seoul. Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul city authorities have uncovered serious hygiene violations at local eateries, with some summer dishes containing E. coli at up to 50 times the legal limit, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Monday that it inspected 1,985 restaurants between June and July that serve popular seasonal foods such as naengmyeon (cold noodles), kongguksu (cold noodles in soy milk) and patbingsu (shaved ice with sweet red beans), along with foods like gimbap (rice rolls), toast stands and samgyetang (stuffed chicken soup) specialty restaurants.

The checks also covered eateries inside accommodations like hotels, and those near campsites and event venues.

Inspectors reviewed kitchen hygiene, storage temperatures, expiration date compliance, product labeling and staff sanitation practices.

The city found 22 businesses in violation, including 15 which led to fines and facility improvement orders, and one license revocation under the Food Sanitation Act.

Key violations included failing to conduct mandatory health checks, poor kitchen hygiene, not wearing sanitary hats, lack of lids on food waste bins and damaged facilities.

The city also tested 136 food samples. Seven failed safety standards, resulting in business suspensions.

Mango shaved ice tested positive for staphylococcus aureus, naengmyeon and kongguksu had dangerous levels of E. coli, and ice cubes from coffee shops contained excessive amounts of bacteria.

Some samples had contamination levels up to three times higher for staphylococcus aureus and as much as 50 times higher for E. coli than what is considered safe and allowable by food standards.

Yang Gwang-sook, head of Seoul’s Food Policy Division, said the city “will continue thorough inspections and strict enforcement to strengthen food safety management and prevent food poisoning.”

This article is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.