Maeil Dairies apologizes after cleaning solution contaminates milk product
South Korean dairy giant Maeil Dairies issued a formal apology on Monday following the contamination of one of its sterilized milk products with cleaning solution during production.
Maeil CEO Kim Seon-hee attributed the incident to a valve operation error at the company’s Gwangju manufacturing plant on September 19, according to Yonhap News Agency. The malfunction briefly allowed cleaning liquid to mix with Maeil's 200-milliliter sterilized milk product.
The company confirmed that approximately 50 units were affected, all delivered to a single client. The issue came to light last Thursday when employees at a corporate research center reported symptoms including stomach pain and mouth discoloration after consuming the product in the company cafeteria.
In response, Maeil voluntarily recalled over 10,000 units of the affected milk the following day, The Chosun Daily reported. The recall involves 200-milliliter cartons of Maeil Milk Original produced at the Gwangju facility, with an expiration date of February 16, 2025.
Maeil Dairies apologized for the incident and said it is working to strengthen safety protocols to prevent similar issues in the future.
The company confirmed that approximately 50 units were affected, all delivered to a single client. The issue came to light last Thursday when employees at a corporate research center reported symptoms including stomach pain and mouth discoloration after consuming the product in the company cafeteria.
In response, Maeil voluntarily recalled over 10,000 units of the affected milk the following day, The Chosun Daily reported. The recall involves 200-milliliter cartons of Maeil Milk Original produced at the Gwangju facility, with an expiration date of February 16, 2025.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, in collaboration with local authorities, has launched an on-site investigation to determine the exact cause of the contamination. The ministry said it would take appropriate measures based on the findings.
Maeil Dairies apologized for the incident and said it is working to strengthen safety protocols to prevent similar issues in the future.
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