South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has introduced sweeping food labelling reforms to enhance consumer safety and transparency. The new regulations, which take effect in 2026 and 2028, introduce mandatory high-caffeine warnings for solid foods, detailed sugar alcohol disclosures, and expanded nutrition labelling across 259 processed food categories. The phased rollout will impact large food companies first, with SMEs following later.
Insights & Strategic Moves
High-Caffeine Labelling Now Covers Solid Foods
Previously required only for liquids, solid products containing guarana will now need a ‘high caffeine’ warning if they exceed 0.15mg per gram.
Labels must display total caffeine content per serving and include a cautionary statement for children, pregnant women, and caffeine-sensitive consumers.
Sugar Alcohol Sweetener Transparency
Products using mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, or other sugar alcohols as primary sweeteners must now disclose exact percentages and include a diarrhoea warning for excessive consumption.
Example format: ‘Sugar alcohol (D-sorbitol 4%, D-maltitol 10%) – Excessive consumption may cause diarrhoea.’
Mandatory Nutrition Labels for 259 Food Categories
Previously unregulated ice creams, sugar syrups, processed milks, meal kits, butter, whey products, and processed insect foods must now carry nutrient information.
Only 30 categories (e.g., chewing gum, teas, salts, packaged meats) remain exempt.
Implementation Timeline Based on Company Size
Large companies (KRW 12bn / US$8.2mn+ sales in 2022) must comply by January 1, 2026.
Smaller businesses get a grace period until January 1, 2028.
South Korea’s strict labelling overhaul aligns with global food safety trends, ensuring consumers receive clearer information about high-caffeine products and sugar alcohols. Food manufacturers must adapt packaging, reformulate where necessary, and prepare for phased enforcement.
The 2026-2028 South Korean food labelling reforms mark a pivotal shift toward enhanced transparency, health awareness, and regulatory compliance—a critical step for brands navigating the country’s highly competitive processed food market.
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