In the context of globalized food supply chains, ensuring food safety and quality has become an increasingly complex challenge for importing countries, including Vietnam. In South Korea, during the first half of 2025, the national food quarantine authority recorded 71 recall cases involving imported food products from Vietnam. These recalls span a wide range of product categories and hazard types, reflecting systemic issues in production, processing, and regulatory compliance.

Table 1. Number of Recalls by Hazard Category

The distribution of hazard types is relatively balanced, with microbiological hazards and pesticide residues accounting for the highest number of recalls. Although the remaining categories- food additives, antibiotics, and other violations - have fewer cases, they still pose significant risks to consumer health and safety.

Detailed Breakdown by Hazard Category

1. Microbiological Hazards

• Microbiological contamination was the most frequently reported hazard, accounting for 17 recall cases - approximately 24% of the total. Affected products ranged from processed seafood and fruit juices to frozen vegetables.
  • Escherichia coli and coliforms were detected at levels exceeding regulatory limits in multiple samples, particularly in dried fish, seasoned squid, and watermelon juice.
  • Around 10 recalls were triggered by bacterial counts exceeding acceptable thresholds. Some samples of juice and frozen fruit showed microbial loads up to 30 times higher than permitted, indicating serious lapses in hygiene and cold chain management.
• These findings highlight inconsistencies in production and storage practices, especially for products requiring strict temperature control and sanitation protocols.

2. Pesticide Residues

• Pesticide-related violations also accounted for 17 recalls, underscoring ongoing concerns about agricultural chemical use in exported produce.
  • Active ingredients such as Tricyclazole, Propamocarb, Acetamiprid, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, and Hexaconazole were found in excess across various fruits and vegetables, including carrots, pumpkins, mangoes, bell peppers, longans, and lychees.
  • Some cases involved extreme exceedances: Tricyclazole in frozen red bell peppers was found at levels 22 times the legal limit, while Propamocarb in pumpkin exceeded the threshold by 11 times.
• These violations suggest non-compliance with regulations on dosage, pre-harvest intervals, and approved substances, raising concerns about agricultural practices and oversight in exporting countries.

3. Food Additives

• Food additives were the second most common hazard group, with 13 recalls. Violations primarily involved the use of unauthorized tar colors, excessive preservatives, and undeclared ingredients.
  • Dried fruits such as mango, pineapple, papaya, and passion fruit were found to contain banned tar pigments including Food Color Yellow No. 4, Red No. 40, and Red No. 102.
  • Two instant noodle products (chicken and beef flavor) were recalled due to the presence of Sorbic acid, a preservative not permitted in these formulations.
  • Two products - dried ginger and frozen mango - exceeded the allowable limit for Sulfur dioxide, with one ginger sample reaching 2851 ppm, far above the 30 ppm threshold.
  • A milk tea chewy candy was found to contain Azorubin, a prohibited tar color.
• These cases reflect inadequate control over ingredient sourcing and formulation, as well as insufficient transparency in product labeling.

4. Antibiotic Residues

• Ten recalls were linked to antibiotic contamination, primarily in aquaculture products such as whiteleg shrimp and snakehead fish.
  • Multiple shrimp samples contained Doxycycline at concentrations 2 to 17 times higher than the legal limit.
  • AOZ, a metabolite of the banned antibiotic Furazolidone, was detected in several shrimp products.
  • Dried and filleted snakehead fish samples were found to contain Ofloxacin (a prohibited substance), along with excessive levels of Trimethoprim and Sulphadiazine.
• These findings indicate that the use of veterinary drugs in aquaculture remains poorly regulated, posing risks to public health and undermining consumer confidence.

5. Other Violations

• The “Other” category accounted for 14 recalls, encompassing a wide range of issues from labeling errors to non-compliance with technical standards:
  • Unauthorized GM were detected in frozen mixed fruit products.
  • Some items failed to meet compositional standards, such as honey adulterated with paraffin and fish sauce with insufficient total nitrogen content.
  • Tableware products exceeded the permissible limit for Potassium permanganate consumption by up to 70 times.
  • Several shipments were found to contain undeclared or misrepresented ingredients, inconsistent with import declarations.
• These cases reflect broader systemic issues in traceability, documentation, and regulatory compliance across the supply chain.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The overall picture of food recalls in South Korea during the first half of 2025 reveals a concerning trend: products imported from Vietnam continue to face significant challenges in meeting increasingly stringent quarantine and safety standards. Violations are not confined to a single product type or hazard category, but span across multiple sectors - indicating that the problem lies not in isolated incidents, but in the integrity of the entire supply chain.

To enhance competitiveness and ensure sustainable export practices, Vietnamese enterprises must take decisive and proactive measures:

• Strengthen quality control at the source: Invest in robust internal testing systems, particularly for microbiological indicators, pesticide residues, additives, and antibiotics. Routine testing not only helps detect risks early but also demonstrates a commitment to quality.
• Standardize production and storage processes: From harvesting and processing to packaging, all stages must comply with the standards of the destination market. For frozen products, maintaining cold chain integrity and hygiene is critical to prevent cross-contamination and microbial growth.
• Ensure transparency in product information: Accurate and complete labeling is essential. Ingredient lists, origin, additives, and allergens must be clearly declared to avoid common errors such as omissions or misrepresentations.
• Stay updated on import regulations: Food safety standards in South Korea, the EU, the US, and other major markets are frequently revised. Businesses must monitor changes and adapt promptly to avoid legal risks and commercial losses.