The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has caught companies that advertised and sold "stevia tomatoes" as if they were ordinary agricultural produce. In some products, E. coli was detected above permissible limits, revealing cases of inadequate sanitation management.
The ministry said on the 6th that it had caught 15 sellers who advertised stevia tomatoes online in a way that misled consumers into perceiving them as agricultural produce, along with three manufacturers that violated sanitation management standards. The ministry requested administrative measures from the relevant local governments against these companies and filed complaints with investigative agencies.
Stevia tomatoes are a processed fruit and vegetable product made by injecting a soaking solution containing enzyme-treated stevia and sucralose into washed cherry tomatoes under pressure or vacuum, and then washing and drying them again. Unlike ordinary tomatoes, they are classified as processed foods that use food additives.
However, the companies caught were found to have advertised the products as if they were ordinary agricultural produce on online shopping malls, using expressions such as "stevia farming method," "new variety," "natural sugar," and "natural sweetener." Products sold in this manner amounted to approximately 62,000 units, with sales reaching 860 million won.
Along with inspecting online advertisements, the ministry also examined the sanitation management practices of nine manufacturers. As a result, three were caught for cases including labeling use-by dates longer than what was stated in their product manufacturing reports, failing to conduct self-quality inspections for all items, and violating food sanitary handling standards.
An inspection of 18 stevia tomato samples collected from distribution found that two products contained E. coli above permissible limits. The ministry said the relevant authorities would proceed with administrative measures against those products.
"Stevia tomatoes are not ordinary agricultural produce but a processed fruit and vegetable product," a ministry official said. "Because the surface of the tomatoes can weaken during the manufacturing process of washing and sweetener injection, consumers should follow storage instructions and consume them within the use-by date."
