Korean Job Discussion Forums

[madoka]

This is especially important for all you cheap asses!

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/04/123_64201.html

Look before you wipe, warn consumer-rights advocates, who say there is more to toilet rolls than just pulp.

Fluorescent whitening agents, banned in a variety of paper products due to the risk of skin reactions, were found in the toilet paper products sold at some of the country's major discount outlets, Consumers Korea said Sunday.

Also called optical brighteners, fluorescent whitening agents are dyes that absorb ultraviolet light and emit it back as visible blue light, thus producing a whitening effect in fabric and paper.

Since the brighteners are linked to allergic reactions and irritations when in contact with skin, the law strictly prevents their use in napkins, hand wipes and diapers.

However, there are no such regulations about using the agents in tissues and toilet paper, which critics say is a problem.

Consumers Korea last month conducted tests on seven different types of toilet paper, six tissues, four napkins, six hand wipes, five sanitary napkins and eight diapers.

Fluorescent whitening agents were found in four toilet paper products ― the own-brand (OB) products of discount chains E-Mart, Lotte Mart and Home Plus, and Ssangyong C&B's Cody Premium toilet rolls.

Critics say that the excessive use of the dyes could be related to the quality of the products, with the paper manufacturers looking to overcompensate for their use of cheap and low-quality recycled materials.

The PB products sold at discount outlets, which range from food to everyday items, are gaining increasing popularity for their cheap prices. However, cheapness is not to be confused with value as these products have frequently been exposed for substandard quality, particularly in food and drinks. The recent report on toilet rolls suggests that it could be the same story for paper products.

``There is no regulation regarding the use of fluorescent whitening agents in tissues and toilet paper,'' said an official from Consumers Korea.

``Although they are used differently than napkins and hand wipes, toilet rolls are used widely in a lot of ways, so there should be stronger safety standards. Some restaurants still put toilet rolls on the tables instead of napkins, and this should be stopped as well.''

Fluorescent whitening agents are widely used by companies making laundry detergents, but their effects could be deceiving, as they don't contribute in any way to making the clothes cleaner or brighter in color, although the eyes may suggest otherwise.

And aside of the health concerns, the chemicals are also known for their toxic effect on the environment as they are harmful to fish and other animals, and don't easily decompose once they are put into the ground or water.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

isnt watching what you put up the five-hole good advice in general? and +1 if you can name the hockey color commentator who called it that....

[Scotticus]

[AsiaESLbound]

So that's why Lotte Mart had a 10 roll pack of toilet tissue on sale for only 2,550 won a week ago?

[BoholDiver]

Korea is well overdue for a major food catastrophe on par with China's melamine problem.

Or there could have been one already, and it got covered up.

[madoka]