Korea recalls Egyptian chamomile over pesticide residues

The food and drug safety ministry said Thursday that a Seoul-based importer must halt sales and recall chamomile after tests found pesticide residues above permitted limits in the product.

The ministry said the chamomile imported and sold by Shinyoung Herb, an importer and seller of imported food based in Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul, contained difenoconazole and propiconazole, fungicides used to control fungal diseases in fruit and vegetables. Difenoconazole was detected at 0.05 milligrams per kilogram against a limit of 0.01 milligrams per kilogram or less, while propiconazole measured 0.09 milligrams per kilogram against the same standard.

The recalled product, chamomile supplied by exporter HERBSOO FOR IMP & EXP of Egypt, amounts to 2,710 kilograms in 10-kilogram and 100-gram packages and carries a consumption deadline of Feb. 1, 2028.

The ministry said it had taken steps to ensure the product is swiftly recalled and asked consumers who bought it to stop using it and return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers who witness illegal food-related activity can report it to the bad food hotline at 1399, or through the ministry's food safety information app, Naesonan, on a smartphone.