Check ingredients and labels before buying solid ethanol fuel or charcoal briquettes for camping

In the same test, one of five charcoal briquettes exceeded the arsenic standard and two were missing mandatory labels.

Which fuels did the agency test?

It tested 13 camping cooking fuels ranked high in sales on Coupang, Naver Shopping, and 11st. There were five grilling briquettes and eight solid ethanol fuels, and the results apply only to the products distributed by those sellers.

Calorific value was 4,340–5,350 kcal/kg for briquettes and 5,230–6,560 kcal/kg for solid ethanol. All briquettes met the calorific standard. Company and product names are in the attachment to the agency press release.

Why is methanol in solid ethanol a problem?

Inhaling methanol can cause headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and optic nerve damage. A mixture with 10% or more methanol can harm health even after a single short exposure, so it is managed as a hazardous chemical under the Chemicals Control Act.

Solid ethanol fuel itself has no methanol content standard. That is why the agency also recommended that the maker of the 7.1% product stop using methanol. For reference, the agency noted that the methanol limit for car washer fluid is 0.6% or less.

Sellers of hazardous chemicals must label the container or provide an information summary, and online sellers must post it on their website. If a listing shows neither this information nor the ingredients, ask the seller before buying.

What should I look for in charcoal briquettes?

Look at results for harmful elements such as arsenic and whether every mandatory label is present. In this test, cadmium, mercury, lead, barium, and sulphur met the standards in all products, but one product exceeded the arsenic standard.

Mandatory labels include product name, country of manufacture, use, grade, presence of an igniter, gross calorific value, moisture content, address and phone number, company name, manufacture date, weight, and safe-use directions. The two failing products were missing moisture content and manufacture date, respectively.

The steps below apply the test results to a pre-purchase check. Follow each product’s manual for how and where to use it.

1. Find the ingredients and methanol content on the listing and the container.
2. If methanol is 10% or more, check that hazardous-chemical information is disclosed with it.
3. For briquettes, confirm moisture content, manufacture date, and safe-use directions are all listed.
4. Compare fuel you already own with the product names in the press release attachment.

For placing the stove that burns this fuel, see placement and clearance outside the tent, and for liquid-fuel fire bowls, see ethanol fire pit fuel and safety standards. It also helps to decide where to keep a fire extinguisher at the campsite before you leave.

What if a product I bought was tested?

First ask the seller’s customer centre whether exchange or refund is available. According to the agency, several companies replied that they would stop sales, improve quality, and offer exchange or refund on request, while some did not state any improvement plan.

If you cannot reach the seller or the answer is unclear, you can request counselling from the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center. These results reflect the November 2025 release, so confirm any later specification changes with the seller.

What is the quick summary?

• The name “ethanol solid fuel” alone does not mean there is no methanol.
• For briquettes, check the arsenic result together with mandatory labels such as moisture content and manufacture date.
• If a product you bought was tested, ask the seller about exchange or refund, and contact 1372 if that fails.