Recall ordered for castella cakes containing prohibited food preservative

″Mini Castella″ product that was found to contain a prohibitied chemical substance [MINISTRY OF FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY]

The Food Ministry halted sales of a castella product that was found to contain a prohibited food preservative.

Food import company PTJ Korea was ordered to suspend sales and recall its "Mini Castella" products last Friday by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

A chemical compound benzoic acid — a preservative used in ointments and mouthwash — was detected in the castella cakes. Though a small amount of this substance is allowed in some food products, it is banned for bread products.

Mini Castella are sold at major retail platforms, including Emart's discount store NoBrand and e-commerce sites Coupang and Auction.

The castella cakes subject to recall were imported from China on Feb. 13 with expiration dates of May 31.

The Food Ministry is looking into castella cakes from other brands that were made and imported around the similar period.

Emart announced that it will suspend the sale of Mini Castella cakes until its internal tests prove they are safe to eat.

BY CHUN IN-SUNG [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]