S. Korean confectioner ordered to recall chocolate bar

(ATTN: ADDS Haitai's response)
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities ordered a local
confectioner Thursday to recall a chocolate bar product found to contain a higher
bacteria content than the permissible level.
The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) said the chocolate bar, "Jayushigan
(free time)" made by Haitai Confectionery & Foods Co., had more than twice the
allowable level of bacteria per gram.
Tests revealed that the bar contained 21,000 traces of bacteria per gram,
compared to the maximum permissible amount of 10,000, according to the KFDA.
Subject to the recall are products with an expiration date of Oct. 7, 2010, the
KFDA said, advising consumers to return their purchases to retailers.
Haitai said it has started recalling 2,605 boxes of the product and plans to
complete it quickly by mobilizing its nationwide sales outlets.
The confectioner also said it will come up with the result of its investigation
of what caused the microbe contamination.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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