A customer at a Starbucks branch in Seoul's Gwanak District takes a paper straw, April 1. Korea Times file

A government-commissioned report saying that the health risk of paper straws is worse than plastic ones is creating confusion among Korea's food and beverage businesses, according to industry officials on Sunday.

Domestic paper straw makers have received criticism following the report. However, they alleged that the report only cited a foreign study and is irrelevant to their products.

The report's impact has spread to consumers and straw-using businesses that have been using paper straws for their advertised biodegradability and eco-friendliness.

After the report was released early last month, paper straw makers have seen their sales slow down.

Nuridaon, based in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, hasn't been able to sell its currently stocked 25 million paper straws worth 300 million won ($222,000).

Nuridaon, which has been certified safe by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and has even exported to Australia, said its manufacturing process had been certified for safety domestically and overseas.

Nuridaon isn't the only Korean paper straw manufacturer with foreign credentials. Lee&B acquired one from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Seoil from TUV Austria.

Seoil Vice President Park Jae-il said that Korean paper straws have been sold to global enterprises.

"Global companies like Nestle, Danone, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Burger King and McDonald's are using made-in-Korea paper straws," Park said. "Our products have earned global trust. We urge (consumers in Korea) to trust our products as well."

The setback on domestic paper straw producers came following the report that said chemical coating on paper straws is more environmentally hazardous than plastic straws.

The report, jointly written by consulting firm Ecofill Plus and Anyang University's industry-academe cooperation department, said paper straws generated more carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, phosphate and dichlorobenzene than plastic straws when incinerated or buried underground.

An official from a paper straw manufacturer throws paper straws in front of the Ministry of Environment's office in Sejong, Nov. 13, 2023, protesting the government's decision to cancel the planned ban on plastic straws. Newsis

However, the comparison of toxicity was not based on novel experiments but on a previous report published in the United States two years ago. One of the two writers of the preceding report was a high school student in Florida.

The report drew backlash from domestic paper straw producers who said it is "entirely irrelevant to how we are manufacturing our products."

The ministry has also sided with the straw makers, saying the report is "an abroad case study and is irrelevant to (Korean products)."

"We've encountered this controversial report out of the blue," Nuridaon CEO Han Ji-man said. "It came to us when we were totally unprepared. We don't use any coating on our products. But because of a foreign case study, all paper straws have become possibly dangerous. It's very disheartening."

The report has already made some consumers skeptical about paper straws. Cafe franchise companies, one of the primary consumers of paper straws in Korea, have demanded the government introduce more straightforward policy guidance regarding the products.

"Some consumers have inquired us if paper straws will no longer be available at our shops," an official from a major coffee franchise company said. "Unless the environment ministry addresses the public clearly, confusion among consumers, franchises and paper straw producers will continue."

The ministry canceled a plan to ban the use of plastic straws last November following rising public concerns.

The measure enraged domestic paper straw producers who were anticipating higher sales, prompting them to protest in front of the ministry's office in Sejong.