Bugs found in Harim chicken product

Odd-looking objects that a customer discovered in a Harim chicken last week have been confirmed to be beetle larvae. Harim's chariman has apologized for the issue and pledged to improve the company's inspection process.

Tens of bug-looking foreign objects were found in a chicken product made by Harim [JOONGANG PHOTO]

Odd-looking objects that a customer discovered in a Harim chicken product last week have been confirmed to be beetle larvae.

The saga began on Oct. 27 when the customer purchased a chicken at a discount mart in Gyeonggi, according to local media reports. He later found what appeared to be a lump of fat near the chicken's neck and, when he tried to remove it, found objects that looked like bugs inside.

The buyer immediately reported the discovery to the mart and to Harim. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety immediately launched and investigation into Harim's factory in Jeongeup, South Jeolla, and found that the objects were beetle larvae.

Harim Chairman Kim Hong-kook apologized for the issue on Wednesday, and vowed to strengthen the inspection process at the company's farms and plants.

“Beetle larvae are foreign objects and they should not have been included in the production process,” Kim is reported to said in a press conference. “But they were found in our eco-friendly farms, thus harmless to humans.”

“We sincerely apologize, and will inspect the whole production process to prevent recurrence.”

Beetles are often found on broiler farms. They are known for damaging chicks by giving them stress that delays growth. They also contribute to the spread of poultry diseases like Salmonella and attack shed insulations like wood and urethane.

“For around four hours before we ship the chickens, we don't feed them to empty the stomach,” Harim's spokesperson said. “And it appears that the chickens ate the larvae.”

“We failed to fully remove them in the slaughter process.”

The government requested that Harim submit documents detailing how it will prevent recurrence.

Under current regulations, if foreign objects like insects are found in a food product, the item's manufacturer gets a warning. A firm is required to halt production for five days if such objects are found in its products a second time, and for 10 days if it happens a third time.

BY LEE SU-MIN, SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]