Surface active agent which is a type of chemical agent known to cause dermatological complications was detected in a majority of wet towels and wet tissues provided in restaurants. General bacteria found in wet tissues exceeded the permissible level. This prompted the Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB) to conduct tests on the content of chemical agents, bacteria and alien substances in wet towels and tissues provided in 54 restaurants in Seoul.

 

Classification	Number of Tested Restaurants	Anionic Surfactant (LAS) Detected	General Bacteria Detected	Fluorescent Whitening Agent Detected	Alien Substance Detected
Wet Towel	22	13 (59.1%)	1 (4.5%)	22 (100%)	22 (100%)
Wet Tissue	32	3 (9.4%)	10 (31.3%)	-	-
Total	54	16 (29.6%)	11 (20.4%)	22 (40.7%)	22 (40/7%)

 

According to test results, anionic surfactant (LAS, Linear alkybenzene sulfonate) was detected in wet towels and wet tissues provided in 16 out of 54 restaurants (29.6%).

 There are no regulations under the current law but lab tests showed that LAS may cause dermatological complications.  

 

The reason for LAS found in disposable wet tissues is that besides wiping hands before eating, it may have been likely used to wipe tables as well. In some wet tissue packaging, it even says that it is very effective getting rid of grease stains. 

 

General bacteria found in wet towels and tissues provided in 11 out of 54 restaurants (20.4%) exceeded the permissible level, based on a micro-organism test. 

In accordance with the Public Health Act and the Standards & Specifications for Sanitation, the permissible level of general bacteria in wet tissues is 2,500 bacteria per gram.  

 

Furthermore, test results found that wet towels provided in 22 restaurants contained fluorescent whitening agent. This may be due to using the agent in detergents or during the washing process to make the wet towels cleaner and whiter.

 

 Despite the fact that wet towels are used for the same purposes as wet tissues, there is no law that bans the use of fluorescent whitening agents. 

 

Alien substances were also detected in wet towels provided in 22 restaurants whereas 32 restaurants that provided wet tissues wee alien substance-free. The types of alien substances found were pepper power, hair, eye lash, string, and vegetable bits.