Crown Confectionery, best known for its global hit product Choco Pie, was indicted for selling wafer cookies worth about 3.1 billion won that had shown a bacteria level exceeding the legal limit.

In filing a report to the health authorities, the company overlooked the fact that Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning, was detected in the products.

They instead used other samples from the products until they tested negative for the bacteria.

The lower courts found the company guilty and set the fine at 50 million won, saying it breached consumer trust by selling faulty products that could have threatened consumers' health. The appeals court mostly agreed with the ruling and upheld the penalty. (Yonhap)