Food Safety Agency Finds No Edible Dye So Far in Chinese Stem Lettuce Sold in South Korea

South Korea’s food safety agency has so far found no edible coloring in Chinese stem lettuce circulating in the domestic market, after reports of dyed produce in China sparked concern.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urgently collected and tested eight products. None contained edible coloring. The ministry also tightened inspections of Chinese stem lettuce at the customs stage and said it was collecting and testing additional products already in domestic distribution.

The agency is checking through the South Korean embassy in China whether stem lettuce treated with edible coloring was imported into South Korea. It said the measures followed the discovery of businesses using coloring on the vegetable in Yuzhong county, Lanzhou, in northwestern China’s Gansu province.

Reports by Chinese-language media showed stem lettuce being dipped in an unidentified green liquid at a vegetable warehouse in Yuzhong county. Products described as compound coloring agents were also found at the site. South Korea prohibits the use of edible coloring and other dyes on natural agricultural products. The ministry said it would continue monitoring hazard information related to Chinese stem lettuce and strengthen checks from importation through domestic distribution.