[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL -- Pulmuone, picked by many South Korean consumers as a reliable provider of healthy foods for daily meals, apologized for causing mass food poisoning that left more than one thousand students sick after eating chocolate cakes at school canteens.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found that some 1,150 students at schools and pre-schools have suffered from symptoms of food poisoning since Tuesday. In an epidemiological investigation, salmonella was found in chocolate cakes distributed by Foodmerce, the foodservice wing of Pulmuone.
"We sincerely apologize to victims and consumers," Foodmerce said in a statement uploaded onto its website on Friday. The company said it stopped distribution and retrieved contaminated products supplied by W1 F&B, one of Foodmerce's food manufacturing partners.
Foodmerce distributed about 3.8 tons of chocolate cakes between August 8 and September 5 to 184 meal-providing facilities including 169 schools and two kindergartens. Health authorities said salmonella infection has affected more than 1,100 students nationwide.
Pulmuone started its business as a small organic vegetable store chain in 1981 and became a major food product and service company, well known for its healthy image. Its main products are kimchi, tofu, bean sprouts, dumplings and instant noodles.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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