Bacteria Chocolate from South Korea

Bacteria 14 Times More Than Standard Found in Chocolate by South Korean Largest Confectioner

Bacteria 14 times more than the standard level were found in chocolate products by Orion, South Korean largest confectioner, and the health authority ordered emergency recall. The company also produced another product with bacteria 2 years ago.

The product containing 14 times more bacteria is Orion's bestseller Market O Milk Choco Classic Mini Special. 140 thousand bacteria, which were far beyond the normal level 10 thousand per gram, were detected in 24,030 products manufactured in Iksan factory 28 December 2011.

Korea Food & Drug Administration banned its distribution and sales and imposed administrative sanction such as recall. The dangerous products are not distributed any more, and Orion Corporation decided to stop for an indefinite time production and distribution of the product until they discover the cause.

A huge shock struck South Korea because of the food safety problem disclosed on St Valentine's Day. Many media reported as "Market O is cake of bacteria", "Impact by detection of 14 times more bacteria" and "Nightmare Valentine's Day".

Translated from Searchina News article



Market O products are sell in 60 countries, according to Orion's website.

There are a lot of cases that bacteria or dangerous objects are found in food produced in South Korea and China.