Korea to Auto-Block High-Risk Imported Foods with AI Screening
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) will apply an AI risk-prediction model to import customs inspections from January to automatically flag and block high-risk processed foods. The model, tailored for agricultural processed foods (e.g., starch products, flour, peanut and nut products, cereals) and seafood processed foods (e.g., fish paste products, jeotgal (salted fermented seafood), dried seafood, seasoned laver), learns from big data including past noncompliance records, ingredient information, overseas environmental data (weather, water quality), and overseas contamination or disease reports to select items for detailed testing. Since 2023 MFDS has developed models for seven product groups and has piloted selection of snack and seasoning imports for random checks. The new system will be trialed through December and fully implemented in January, with plans to expand and refine models for high-volume or higher noncompliance categories. MFDS says it will continue using AI and big data to strengthen import food safety so consumers can trust imported food products.
