The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 29th that they will conduct joint collection and inspection for four months starting June 1 to ensure a safe supply of agricultural products in preparation for the summer season.

On the 20th of last month, customers are selecting items at a large supermarket in Seoul. /Courtesy of News1

This inspection will collect agricultural products that are at risk of spoilage and deterioration during the summer due to high temperatures and humidity at the production and distribution stages, and test them for compliance with mycotoxin and pesticide residue standards. Agricultural products that do not meet the criteria will be promptly dealt with through recall, disposal, or postponement of shipment.

To prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases during the summer, there are plans to test more than 1,500 cases of vegetables and fruits such as lettuce and peaches, where an increase in pesticide use is anticipated, for compliance with pesticide residue standards. Additionally, among grains and legumes, testing will be conducted on more than 1,300 cases of wheat, corn, and soybeans for mycotoxins such as aflatoxin and okratoxin A, due to concerns about mold in the hot and humid environment.

The government noted that managing storage temperature and humidity is important for the safe consumption of agricultural products. Considering the summer environment, grains and nuts should be stored at temperatures below 15°C and humidity below 60%, and agricultural products with shells, such as peanuts, should be stored in their shells to prevent mold, emphasizing the need for temperature and humidity management.

To create a safe distribution environment for agricultural products, the government has formed the "Agricultural Product Safety Management Team," a collaborative system involving relevant departments such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, to investigate the causes of non-compliance of agricultural products and to facilitate rapid information exchange.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We plan to continue conducting pre-safety management for agricultural products to create an environment where the public can consume our agricultural products with confidence."