Korean grocery chains strengthen seafood safety amid Fukushima water discharge

An employee is conducting a product safety inspection at Emart’s product safety center. [Courtesy of Emart]

Amid growing concerns about the safety of seafood following Japan’s discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, major Korean grocery chains have significantly enhanced their seafood radiation inspection protocols. These chains have taken steps to ease customer anxieties by displaying inspection results for seafood products in their stores. They have also begun to directly measure radiation levels in seafood from the sourcing stage to further bolster safety measures.

According to industry sources on Thursday, Emart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus have all heightened their inspection for home-grown seafood, while refraining from selling Japanese seafood products since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011.

Starting from August 24, Emart raised its internal radiation safety management system from the “normal” level to “heightened attention.” Since January of this year, Emart has been utilizing its own radiation safety management system to strengthen radiation safety protocols for seafood products. Previously, Emart conducted sampling inspections on up to 50 percent of 40 different types of seafood during normal times. However, the inspection rate was recently increased to 75 percent. Japanese seafood products imported by Emart undergo a two-step inspection process: a preliminary test at distribution centers in Yeosu, Siheung, and Daegu, followed by a detailed examination at the product safety center in Seoul’s Guro district.

Back in 2015, Emart became the first Korean retailer to establish an independent product safety center dedicated to food quality management. This center plays a crucial role in preemptively verifying the legality and safety of Emart’s food products, ranging from bacterial contamination to pesticide residues. It even set up a radiation lab within the safety center to measure radiation levels in seafood. The center employs sophisticated radiation measurement equipment currently used by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Lotte Mart took similar measures to enhance seafood safety inspections in February of this year, devising strategies to address potential contamination from discharged water. Lotte Mart’s seafood safety inspection system has been implemented in collaboration with partners at major production sites. Lotte Mart product planners measure radiation levels before and after purchasing seafood using radiation detection devices. Even after the products arrive at their distribution centers, inspectors conduct a second round of sampling using special equipment in the early morning hours.

Lotte Central Research Institute’s safety center in Magok, Seoul, conducts precise seafood safety inspections by examining samples from various maritime zones every week. The frequency of seafood safety inspections, previously conducted once every quarter, has been increased to four times a week.

Homeplus has made it mandatory for all suppliers of domestic seafood to submit product inspection certificates.

Meanwhile, in the week following Japan’s water discharge from the nuclear plant, sales of seafood in large grocery chains increased by around 5 percent compared to the same period last year. Sales of dried seafood such as seaweed and anchovies surged by 25 to 30 percent. This surge is believed to be a result of consumers’ preference for consuming seafood before the contaminated water potentially affects the supply.