Korea's top tanghulu franchise violates food sanitation laws, promises follow-up measures

Tanghulu, candied fruits on a stick, are on display at a tanghulu booth in Seoul. [YONHAP]

Korea’s biggest tanghulu chain Dalkom Wang Ga Tanghulu announced it will conduct food quality assurance inspections in its factories and affiliate stores.

In order to reinforce quality and hygiene standards, self-quality inspections will be conducted for potential foreign objects inside the food, and each product’s sugar content levels, calories and ingredients will be analyzed by an external organization, the company said in a press release on Friday.

The company received quality clearance on foreign objects and metallic substances from the Korea of Analysis Center, and the analysis on sugar content levels and nutrients will also be released as soon as test results come out, said the franchise.

The announcement comes after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported on Thursday that the brand violated food safety regulations.

The ministry, along with local government agencies, inspected 5,892 eateries in amusement parks, public transit facilities and shops that make and serve tanghulu.

The ministry caught 12 stores violating food sanitation and labeling regulations.

Among the 12, one was caught operating without a license, two were caught storing foods past the expiration date and one using ingredients whose manufacturing dates are unknown.

Dalkom Wang Ga Tanghulu's manufacturing plant in Busan was caught not labeling when its products were made, violating food safety regulations, the Hankyoreh reported on Thursday. The plant also did not perform a mandatory self-quality inspection or safety screenings on ingredients.

"[Tanghulu and related products] need to go under a self-inspection every three months to ensure there are no foreign objects inside," a ministry official said. "But there has not been one inspection since [the plant's] operation began."

Tanghulu [NEWS1]

A Dalkom Wang Ga Tanghulu shop in Geoje, South Gyeongsang, receiving products from the manufacturing plant, was caught using unlabeled products.

The number of tanghulu stores has rapidly increased in recent years, from 178 in 2021 to 1,060 as of August this year.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]