Consumer hospitalized after drinking contaminated South Korean milk

In South Korea, a significant food safety incident occurred when Maeil Dairies announced the recall of 10,000 units of its milk products. The recall was prompted by the accidental contamination of the milk with cleaning solution, which took place during production due to a valve operation error in the company’s manufacturing plant in Gwangju on September 19, 2024. The affected product, Maeil Milk Original 200ml, has an expiry date of February 16, 2025. The contamination came to light after several employees at a corporate research center reported suffering from stomach pain after consuming the milk provided in the company cafeteria on December 12, 2024. Alarmingly, one of these employees vomited blood and required hospitalization, highlighting the urgency of the situation and raising concerns among consumers in South Korea. Following these incidents, social media images surfaced showing an unknown brown liquid leaking from cartons of the milk products, further escalating public anxiety about food safety. Maeil Dairies' chief executive, Kim Seon-hee, issued a public apology, explaining that quality abnormalities had led to the decision to recall the products. Furthermore, she assured customers that other products manufactured on the same production line were deemed safe upon inspection. In response to this serious issue, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced an immediate on-site inspection of the manufacturer’s plant to ensure compliance with safety regulations. The dairy company committed to improving its production processes, including enhancing its software systems to prevent future errors, while also pledging to strengthen its quality and safety management systems with the assistance of both local and foreign equipment specialists. This recall underscores the critical importance of stringent safety protocols in the food manufacturing industry.