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| Aekyung's controversial 2080 Hochi Toothpaste / Courtesy of Aekyung |
By Kim Jae-heun
The government is expected to order Aekyung to recall all of its controversial 2080 Hochi Toothpaste products, which the company introduced in collaboration with Samyang Foods' super-spicy Buldak Ramen, due to safety concerns, according to industry officials, Thursday.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said it will soon decide whether to advise the hygiene product maker to change the package design of its controversial toothpaste or make it recall the products.
The ministry is concerned that Aekyung's 2080 Hochi Toothpaste could be mistaken for food by consumers, similar to the company's previous curry-flavored toothpaste that it collaborated with Ottogi on in 2020.
"No person shall manufacture, import, store or display any non-drugs that are likely to mislead the use of them pursuant to Article 62 Subparagraph 10 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act for the purpose of selling them," an MFDS official said. "We will leave everything open and review necessary measures."
Aekyung has refused to give a direct answer on whether the company will recall all of its 2080 Hochi Toothpaste products voluntarily.
"We stopped producing Hochi Toothpaste late last year. For the products that have already been distributed through various retail channels, we have no control over them," an Aekyung official said.
Local convenience stores are hoping Aekyung will recall its product for different reasons though.
"Aekyung's 2080 Hochi Toothpaste doesn't sell at all at our convenience stores and we have been criticized for displaying such a controversial product on the shelf too. Who is going to buy this weird item? I wish they would get recalled as soon as possible," one convenience store firm official said.
