Frog Carcass Found On School Lunch Menu, Education Authorities Launch Investigation

JAKARTA - The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education last Tuesday said it would open an investigation into the surprising discovery of a dead tree frog on a lunch plate, which was given to students at a high school in the capital earlier in the day.

The incident took place at an unnamed high school in western Seoul, where students were shocked to find the carcass of a tree frog in radish kimchi, a popular Korean fermented side dish, served with their lunch on Monday.

The school sent a letter of apology to all students and their parents, saying the contaminated kimchi was discovered after it was sent by a supplier to the school as a finished product.

In addition, the school said it had disposed of all radish kimchi products stored in the school cafeteria, and terminated its contract with the food supplier.

Not only that, but the school also said it would take further action against the supplier, if necessary, after receiving a written explanation from the company.

Seoul's education office said it plans to investigate any issues with the high school's food delivery and food service processes.

"Seoul School Health Promotion Center, together with Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade, will investigate the kimchi supplier in question and conduct special checks at the high school," an official at the office said, as reported by the Korea Times on May 31.