Starbucks Issues Apology Statement, Admits Formaldehyde in Peripheral Product

Starbucks Summer Carry Bag Controversy: Formaldehyde Detection Sparks Public Concern

According to a July 22 report by Yonhap News Agency, an anonymous user claiming to be an employee of the FITI Testing & Research Institute (a comprehensive inspection organization for the apparel industry, consumer goods, environment, and biology sectors) posted on social media that they detected formaldehyde while testing the Summer Carry Bag, a promotional giveaway item from Starbucks Korea's summer campaign.

Since Starbucks launched the campaign in May this year, some consumers had already anonymously complained on social media about noticing a fishy, squid-like odor coming from the travel tote bags. Consequently, the institute conducted tests on the relevant products and discovered formaldehyde. The post also stated that the content expressed did not represent the official position of the institute.

Subsequently, the post sparked heated discussion among netizens. A representative from Starbucks Korea stated that upon learning of the issue, they immediately stopped distributing the related products and sent samples to the Korean National Institute of Technology and Standards for formaldehyde testing, with results to be announced within a week. On July 22, Starbucks Korea issued an apology regarding this incident, with follow-up measures to be determined after testing is completed.

The Korean National Institute of Technology and Standards stated that if the investigation finds that the relevant products contain formaldehyde or other issues, they will immediately recall the products and implement consumer safety guidelines in cooperation with the Korean Consumer Agency.

On the same day, Starbucks Korea also announced through their app that customers who had already redeemed the related products could return them to any store and receive one free beverage coupon. Customers wishing to exchange the products between July 23 and August 31 could do so at any store in exchange for three free beverage coupons.

Official Apology and Test Results

Until yesterday (July 28), Starbucks Korea issued a public apology on their official website, stating that due to failure to conduct safety testing before the campaign, the products involved in this incident did indeed contain formaldehyde. The statement mentioned that the manufacturer of the related products had indicated the presence of formaldehyde upon delivery, but the responsible personnel failed to recognize this during acceptance inspection. Although they were aware of the odor emanating from the storage bags, they did not realize it was the smell of formaldehyde and proceeded to display them in all stores.

The statement also mentioned that after the anonymous user's post, the company immediately commissioned three nationally recognized testing institutions in Korea for cross-verification, ultimately confirming the presence of formaldehyde on the storage bags. The test results were publicly disclosed: formaldehyde testing on unopened storage bags showed an average detection of 459mg/kg on the outer layer and 244mg/kg on the inner layer; testing on storage bags that had been opened for two months showed an average detection of 271mg/kg on the outer layer and 22mg/kg on the inner layer.

Regulatory Standards and Resolution Measures

The test results noted that according to Korea's "Appliance and Household Goods Safety Management Act," the formaldehyde standard for household textiles is under 75mg/kg for underwear and heavy clothing, and under 300mg/kg for outerwear and bedding. Since the problematic storage bags in this incident are classified as "other products" along with bags, cushions, and curtains that are not directly worn and are not regulated by harmful substance safety standards, there are no applicable standards.

Starbucks also stated that due to this incident, the promotional reward of receiving a storage bag after purchasing 17 beverages, which began in May, will be discontinued and replaced with new product rewards. Consumers can also choose a Starbucks reward card worth 30,000 Korean won. Regarding the occurrence of this incident, the apology statement indicated that the company will strengthen safety verification processes for future peripheral products to prevent similar problems from recurring.

Image source: Internet

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