Reports to Korea’s food safety center have surged over the viral Dubai-style chewy cookie, nicknamed “Dujjonku” (두쫀쿠). Between late last year and January this year, authorities recorded 19 violations, with 11 complaints in January alone. Most cases involved poor hygiene and unlicensed sales (7 each), while foreign objects (including nail-sized debris), labeling issues and other problems made up the rest. Consumers reported mold-like powder, food poisoning symptoms, and finding hard contaminants. Some vendors sold homemade cookies on secondhand platforms without permits, leading to at least one criminal referral and administrative guidance for others. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety began targeted inspections of about 3,600 dessert and delivery outlets. Lawmakers urged more proactive hygiene checks to protect public safety as food trends change.
