Groundless fears over formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and a combustible colorless gas used for sterilization or preservation. Soluble formaldehyde is called formalin and widely used as a preservative. In Korea, 60 percent of formaldehyde is used to manufacture plywood and furniture, according to the Environment Ministry. The pungent odor in a newly built house is due to formaldehyde. Because it easily combines with water and other chemical compounds, formaldehyde is also used to produce fake food.

Fears over milk containing formaldehyde have been proven groundless. The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said Sunday that a miniscule amount of formaldehyde was detected in 45 samples of four milk products produced by Maeil Dairies, Seoul Milk, Namyang Dairy Products and Dongwon Dairy Food. The food watchdog also said such a small amount can also be found in nature. The chemical was also found in milk produced by Maeil’s rival, which reported to the government that Maeil uses milk from cows eating feed with formaldehyde.

If baby formula is found to have formaldehyde exceeding the permitted limit, this will create a great health risk. Food safety should be guaranteed under any circumstance. If unfounded information on food spreads, however, this will also harm both food manufacturers and consumers. As recently as three years ago, the country suffered from groundless fears over mad cow disease. The accident at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant stoked fears over radioactive materials, but a certain amount of radiation exists in nature. Traces of formaldehyde are also found in fruit, vegetables and fish that people eat every day. If people shun certain food because of minute amounts of risky materials in nature, they will have no food to eat.

The development of sophisticated measuring equipment allows detection of a tiny quantity of materials by the unit of parts per million, billion or trillion. With the media reporting the detection of such a tiny amount of certain materials, people receive information that they do not need to know and public anxiety grows. The attitude of food safety authorities is also important. Last year, fishermen and octopus restaurants suffered huge damage due to the Seoul city government’s announcement that cadmium was detected in octopus heads. The tested octopuses were later found to be imported from China, however. Substandard food must not enter the Korean market, but in the process of inspection and announcement of the results, the government shouldn`t stoke public fears or damage innocent companies.

Editorial Writer Chung Sung-hee (shchung@donga.com)