The South Korean government has confirmed that food companies must comply with new, stricter labelling regulations for processed foods, caffeine warnings, and sweetener content by 2028. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has mandated these changes to enhance consumer awareness and safety.
Key Regulatory Changes
Mandatory High-Caffeine LabellingAll solid food products containing guarana must now carry a high-caffeine warning label due to their popularity among younger consumers. Previously, this regulation applied only to liquid products.
Any product containing more than 0.15mg of guarana must display a high-caffeine warning.
For liquids, this limit applies per millilitre; for solids, per gram.
The label must be prominently displayed on the main packaging surface, containing the phrases: ‘Contains high caffeine’ and ‘Total caffeine content OOOmg’.
A mandatory caution must state: ‘Not recommended for children, pregnant women, or people sensitive to caffeine’.
Stricter Labelling for Sugar AlcoholsProducts using sugar alcohols such as mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol must indicate the type and content of the sugar alcohol in parentheses near the ingredients list.
A warning must state: ‘Excessive consumption of products containing sugar alcohols may cause diarrhoea’.
Example label: ‘Sugar alcohol (D-sorbitol 4%, D-maltitol 10%)’.
Both mandates will take effect from January 1, 2026.
Expanded Nutrition Labelling RequirementsThe MFDS has increased the number of processed food categories requiring nutrition labels to 259, covering nearly all processed foods. New categories include:
Ice creams, syrups, animal fats, processed milks (e.g., condensed milk, milk cream), processed insect products, ready-to-cook meal kits, and more.
Only 30 categories are exempt, including:
Non-nutritional products (chewing gum, ice cubes, alcoholic beverages).
Minimal nutrient foods (spices, coffees, teas, salts).
Foods with inconsistent nutrient content (kimchi, Korean soy sauce, packaged meats).
Implementation TimelineRegulations will be enforced gradually, depending on business size:
Companies with sales exceeding KRW12bn (US$8.2mn) in 2022 must comply by January 1, 2026.
Companies with sales below KRW12bn will have until January 1, 2028.
Future Outlook
With a focus on consumer protection, South Korea's regulatory landscape is evolving. Businesses must adapt to ensure compliance while maintaining product competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
Comments