South Korea Tightens Food Labeling Laws: No More Herbal Medicine Claims, Ensuring Consumer Safety

South Korea has announced more robust food product labeling requirements, focusing on prohibiting ties to various forms of herbal medications and other health or nutritional claims. This measure is part of the South Korean government's push to improve consumer safety and transparency in the food business. Full implementation of these efforts will officially launch on January 1, 2026.

Historical Context

South Korea has traditionally maintained a strong regulatory framework for food safety. Still, the growing popularity of health foods and supplements has resulted in brands making unsubstantiated health claims. The new laws address rising concerns about misleading information and the potential health risks associated with products falsely marketed as having medicinal benefits. The Health Functional Food Act requires South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to regulate the categorization, approval, and labeling of health-functional foods, generally known as dietary supplements. Key regulations include stringent requirements for dosages, ingredients, and manufacturing processes, an approval process based on scientific evidence, labeling standards prohibiting false or exaggerated health claims, and monitoring and enforcement to combat illegal products and misleading marketing. However, the increased popularity of healthy functional foods has resulted in some firms making unfounded claims about their goods, raising worries about the potential health dangers linked with products wrongly advertised as medical. The MFDS has enacted new legislation and regulations to address these challenges and maintain consumer confidence in the health-functional food industry.

Key Provisions in the New Regulations

Prohibition of Herbal Medicine Claims: The new regulations clearly ban food products from making any claims relating to herbal medicines. This includes traditional Korean herbal treatments, which are an important component of the country's cultural legacy. The goal is to prevent customers from being misled into thinking that food products have medical benefits they do not possess.

The regulations also prohibit using health and nutritional claims unless they are scientifically supported. This means that food manufacturers must give proof to back up any claims regarding the health advantages of their goods. The purpose is to provide consumers with accurate information to make informed food decisions.

Figure 1: Emblem of Health Functional Food

Source: Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

Implications in the Food Industry

The new regulations have a massive impact on South Korea's food business. Companies that have depended on marketing methods highlighting their products' health benefits may need to change their labeling and advertising practices. This could include reformulating items to satisfy new regulations or investing in scientific research to back up health claims. For example, a company that offers a tea beverage with "detoxifying" benefits associated with a specific herb will no longer be able to make such claims without scientific evidence. This may result in fewer items making health claims, but it will boost customer trust in those that do fulfill the new standards.

Real-world Examples

The case of a CheongKwanJang Korean Red Ginseng Extract exemplifies the impact of these laws in practice. Traditionally advertised as a health supplement with various therapeutic benefits, the product will now be subjected to rigorous testing to back up any health claims. This could result in a shift in marketing methods emphasizing the product's nutritional content rather than unsubstantiated health advantages. Another example is the probiotic yogurt industry. Companies like Activia will have to offer scientific data to back up claims about the benefits of probiotics for digestive health. This could result in higher investment in research and development (R&D), which will help customers by providing more credible information.

Figure 2: Probiotic Yogurt from Activia

Source: Activia

Conclusion

South Korea's new legislation on food product labeling is essential to assuring consumer safety and openness in the food business. By forbidding references to herbal medications and mandating scientific proof for health and nutritional claims, the government hopes to safeguard consumers from misleading information and promote informed decision-making. While regulations present obstacles for the food business, they also provide an opportunity to increase customer trust and promote goods that truly satisfy high safety and efficacy criteria.