S.Korea recalls agriculture products

South Korea, concerned about lead and cadmium contamination, will recall vast quantities of food grains and produce cultivated in areas near abandoned mines.

The government action comes after a survey showed these agriculture products are contaminated with the metals at higher-than-permissible levels, The Korea Times reports. The survey was done jointly by various government departments and the country's Food and Drug Administration.

The survey covered 44 regions near disused mines where the soil was believed to be seriously contaminated, affecting many farm products, including rice, Chinese cabbage, soybeans, radishes and corn.

In the recall effort, the government said the contaminated farm goods have not reached general markets and the affected areas were quite small. They don't expect any serious public health problems, the report said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International