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Tar Found in Black Sesame Seeds 게시글 상세보기 - 등록일, 조회수, 첨부파일, 상세내용, 이전글, 다음글 제공
Tar Found in Black Sesame Seeds
Date 2007-08-08 Hit 1842
첨부파일

The Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB) examined the food coloring used and origin labeling on black sesame seeds, hot pepper powder and peas sold in 108 traditional markets, stalls and wholesale markets in 6 metropolitan cities including Seoul.
 
■ Tar found in 21.2% of imported black sesame seeds
KCPB collected and tested 95 types of black sesame seeds available in the market, and found tar which can’t be used in agricultural goods, in 16.8% of black sesame seeds.  
 
[Table 1] Status of Tar Found in Black Sesame Seeds
Classification
Black Sesame Seeds
Total
Imported
Domestic
Tested  Subjects
66 pieces
29 pieces
95 pieces
Tars Detected
14 pieces
2 pieces
16 pieces
Detection Rate
21.2%
6.9%
16.8%
 
These defective agricultural goods are presumed to be imported mostly from China. Cheap sesame seeds are either sold as black sesame seeds or artificial coloring is used on black sesame seeds which are of low quality. By country of origin, tar was found in 21.2% of imported black sesame seeds and 6.9% in domestic products. The most type of tar detected was ‘Food Blue No.1’, ‘Food Yellow No.4’, ‘Food Red No.2’ and ‘Food Yellow No.5’.
 
※The U.S. Center for Science in Public Interest categorizes ‘Food Blue No.1’ as inedible.
※’Food Yellow No.4’ is known to cause allergies if consumed. Since the 1980s, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulates manufacturers to label whether food coloring and flavoring agents have been used in food.  
 
Meanwhile, tar was not detected in peas and hot pepper power available in the market. 
 
[Table 2] Current Origin Labeling According to Marketplace
Classification
Traditional Market
Stall
Wholesale Market
Total
Subject
94
12
2
108
Labeling
65
3
3
70
Non-Labeling
29
9
0
38
Non-Labeling Rate
30.9%
75.0%
0%
35.2%
 
[Table 3] Current Origin Labeling of Agricultural Goods
Unit: Number of Pieces
Classification
Black Sesame Oil
Hot Pepper Powder
Pea
Total
Import
Domestic
Import
Domestic
Import
Domestic
Subject
66
29
34
22
4
6
161
Labeling
44
22
24
20
4
1
115
Non-Labeling
20
10
10
1
-
5
46
Non-Labeling Rate
30.3%
34.5%
29.4%
4.5%
-
83.3%
28.6%
 

Based on the above findings, KCPB will propose to the Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) to tighten monitoring on agricultural goods which used food coloring and to strengthen management/supervision of those responsible for distributing defective goods. Furthermore, it plans to request the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service to conduct thorough investigations and monitoring on country of origin labeling and false labeling to prevent further damages. 

 

Source: Consumer Safety Center
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