Subway Korea recalls 160,000 lobster promotion plates after cadmium exceeds safety limit

Tests find cadmium release six to eight times the limit

Subway Korea has recalled all ceramic plates handed out with its new lobster sandwich promotion after government laboratories found cadmium release at six to eight times South Korea's safety limit. The affected batch consisted of 160,000 plates manufactured in China and distributed to customers buying the limited edition sandwich from November 18 to November 24.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) ordered the products off the market after tests measured cadmium release of 4.2 to 5.3 micrograms per square centimeter. The national limit is 0.7 micrograms per square centimeter. At the lower end, the measured release was exactly six times the threshold; the upper result was close to eight times it.

Subway Korea stopped distributing the plates, posted a public apology and told recipients to stop using them. As of December 8, 2025, detailed return instructions were still to follow. The company is offering coupons worth 8,000 won to customers who received the free plate and said it would continue accepting applications while government and company inquiries proceed.

The recall concerns the promotional plate, not food served in Subway restaurants or the regular tableware used inside them. Customers had already reported that the lobster design on the eating surface faded or peeled when it came into contact with moisture or oil.

MFDS also referred the importer, SRG, to police. The ministry alleges that the company submitted photographs of a different, previously approved product during import procedures in an apparent attempt to avoid a more detailed inspection. It said it would seek administrative penalties and pursue legal action.

What the laboratory results measure

Precision tests at the Gyeongin Regional Food and Drug Safety Office confirmed that cadmium was being released from the plates' decorated surfaces above the legal threshold. The measurement concerns metal that can migrate from the surface that touches food.

A microgram is a very small quantity. Expressing the result per square centimeter allows regulators to assess release in relation to the area of the surface being tested. South Korea's standard of 0.7 micrograms per square centimeter is a release limit used to evaluate whether heavy metals migrate from food contact surfaces.

Cadmium can move from colored ceramic glazes or printed decals into food, especially when an acidic dish or hot liquid is placed on the surface. Regulators set strict thresholds because small amounts released repeatedly can add to a person's exposure over time.

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal and a recognized carcinogen. High exposure can damage the kidneys and weaken bones. Consumer products usually do not expose people to those levels in a single use, but plates or mugs that steadily release heavy metals into food can contribute to cumulative exposure.

Customers noticed the decoration wearing away

Customers raised concerns about the plates before the laboratory findings became public. The printed lobster motif, a transfer print applied to the eating surface, reportedly peeled or faded when it touched water or oil.

That defect suggests the ink and protective coating were not properly bonded during firing, the heating process used in ceramic production. Weak bonding increases the chance that pigments can leach during everyday use. The laboratory results showed that the problem extended beyond how well the design stayed on the plate.

Decorative decals can be safe when they are sealed beneath a durable layer and fired correctly. When adhesion is weak, ordinary use, scrubbing and contact with acidic foods can wear away the design and make it easier for colorants to migrate.

How cadmium can escape from ceramic decoration

Cadmium based pigments have long been used to produce bright red, orange and yellow colors in ceramics. Modern manufacturers have moved toward safer alternatives or encapsulated pigments, in which the pigment is contained within another material. Decorations can also be covered with a stable, glassy layer that resists leaching.

The protective layer matters because it separates the colored material from food. If that layer is thin, poorly fused or missing, pigments can remain exposed at the surface. Acidic foods, including dishes made with tomatoes or vinegar, can accelerate the release of substances from that surface.

Heat, prolonged contact with food and heavy scrubbing can also increase wear. For the recalled plates, the combination of customer complaints about the print and the measured cadmium release made the eating surface the central safety concern.

What Subway Korea is offering customers

Subway Korea has apologized publicly, halted the giveaway and said recipients should stop using the plate. Its response includes an 8,000 won voucher for affected customers, with applications being accepted through the company's channels.

The company said it would keep accepting applications while MFDS and its own inquiries continue. Detailed instructions for returning the plates had not been announced as of December 8. Customers therefore still needed guidance on how the physical collection would work.

Once MFDS finalizes its action, Subway Korea is expected to explain collection points or courier arrangements and how customers can verify eligibility for compensation. Recipients can prepare by keeping proof of purchase or receipts in the app connected to the lobster promotion.

The chain operates 656 restaurants across South Korea. Subway began serving customers in Seoul in 1991 and was incorporated locally in 2005. Subway Korea is a wholly owned unit of the global franchise, which Roark Capital acquired in 2023.

The dates behind the recall

The plates were distributed during a promotion lasting from November 18 to November 24. Customers' complaints about the decoration preceded publication of the laboratory findings. By December 8, distribution had stopped, the recall had been announced and the importer had been referred to police.

The main dates and developments are:

• 1991: Subway began serving customers in Seoul.
• 2005: The business was incorporated locally in South Korea.
• 2023: Roark Capital acquired the global Subway franchise.
• November 18 to November 24: Customers buying the limited edition lobster sandwich received the promotional plates.
• Before the test findings became public: Customers reported fading or peeling of the lobster print after contact with moisture or oil.
• By December 8, 2025: MFDS had ordered the plates off the market, Subway Korea had stopped distribution and offered vouchers, and detailed return guidance was pending.

The next practical step for recipients is the company's announcement of return arrangements. The government investigation and the company's inquiry were continuing alongside the coupon application process.

Importer faces scrutiny over product photographs

MFDS identified the importer as SRG, a food import and sales firm based in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. It identified the manufacturer as SHULOPAL Guangzhou in China. The batch comprised 160,000 plates with a total weight of 44,800 kilograms.

The ministry alleges that SRG used photographs of a previously approved product in its import declarations instead of photographs of the promotional plate. Regulators described this as an apparent attempt to avoid precision inspection, the detailed testing that ultimately confirmed excessive cadmium release.

MFDS said it would seek administrative penalties and pursue legal action, and it referred the case to police. Submitting incorrect documentation can lead to sanctions under Korean law. The ministry can order recalls, impose fines and bar importers that violate safety rules.

The police referral means the case could lead to criminal charges following an investigation. The allegation about the photographs remains part of the authorities' inquiry.

How Korea checks tableware safety

South Korea's food safety law covers materials and articles that come into contact with food, including ceramic plates. Importers must submit documents describing the product, the materials used and factory test results.

MFDS laboratories carry out precision tests when risks are flagged. If a product fails, the agency can order a recall and direct companies to contact buyers, remove remaining stock, and dispose of or export the affected items.

Heavy metal release limits are kept low to reduce accumulation in the body over time. Comparable frameworks exist in many other markets, sharing the goal of preventing hazardous migration from food contact surfaces during normal use.

The Subway promotion shows how these checks apply to a free item as well as tableware bought directly by a customer. The safety issue lies in the surface that touches food and the substances it releases during testing.

How to handle the recalled plate

Recipients should stop using the promotional plate for food or drink and keep it safely stored until return instructions are issued. Heating or scrubbing the surface should be avoided.

The practical handling steps are:

• Stop using the plate for any food or drink.
• Place it in a sealed bag or wrap it to limit contact with household surfaces.
• Keep it away from children.
• Do not microwave, heat or scrub the plate.
• Wait for official return instructions from Subway Korea or MFDS.

People who have already used the plate can stop further use and follow the recall process. Routine exposure from brief use is unlikely to cause immediate symptoms. Anyone with specific health concerns can discuss the exposure with a clinician.

The recall is limited to this defined promotional item. Subway Korea said it does not affect food served in its restaurants, and regular restaurant tableware is outside the recall.

What to consider when choosing decorated dishes

Consumers concerned about heavy metals in plates and mugs can choose undecorated eating surfaces, or designs placed on the rim or underside rather than in the area that contacts food. Buying from brands that certify their products meet food contact standards is another practical precaution.

Care instructions also matter for decorated ceramics. Following those instructions helps limit damage to the surface. Heavily decorated pieces can be reserved for display rather than everyday dining.

For recipients of Subway Korea's lobster plate, the immediate action remains to stop using it, retain purchase records where available and wait for the announced collection arrangements. The coupon application process is continuing while the inquiries proceed.

Key Points

• Subway Korea recalled 160,000 ceramic plates distributed with its lobster sandwich promotion from November 18 to November 24.
• MFDS tests measured cadmium release of 4.2 to 5.3 micrograms per square centimeter, against a limit of 0.7.
• Customers reported that the lobster print faded or peeled after contact with moisture or oil.
• The plates were manufactured by SHULOPAL Guangzhou in China and imported by SRG in Gimpo.
• MFDS alleges that SRG submitted photographs of a different product to avoid detailed inspection and referred the matter to police.
• Subway Korea stopped distribution, apologized and offered coupons worth 8,000 won.
• As of December 8, 2025, detailed return instructions were pending and inquiries were continuing.
• Customers should stop using the plate, store it safely and await return guidance. Food served in Subway restaurants and regular restaurant tableware are outside the recall.