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On July 24, 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) revised the Food Labeling Standard1. This revision mainly aims to address the shrinkflation practice, and enhance the labeling requirements for sweeteners. Other labeling requirements covered by the new version include improving the labelling methods to make alcohol’s calories more visible, establishing the legal ground to indicate that a product is for infants or young children, and optimizing the requirements for labelling blended edible oils. Details are as below:
(1) Mandatory labeling of reduced product contents
Starting from January 1, 2025, enterprises of food products whose volume or contents are reduced compared to previous versions should indicate the change on the product package. The change in contents shall be labeled next to the product’s net quantity for 3 months or longer after the reduction happens. Examples given by MFDS for labeling reduced volumes are as follows:
내용량 00g (내용량 변경 제품, 00g → 00g, 또는 00% 감소) Net quantity 00g (Net quantity has been changed from 00g to 00g, 00% reduced) |
내용량 00g (이전 내용량 00g) 등 Net quantity 00g (Previously 00g) |
MFDS introduced this provision to address the practice of "shrinkflation" where product sizes are decreased while prices remain the same. Nevertheless, exceptions are made for products when the unit price did not increase due to the volume change, or the volume reduction is 5% or less.
(2) Enhanced management of sweetener labeling
The new regulation intensified the labeling requirements of sweeteners, effective on January 1, 2026, in order to provide more concise and exact information for consumers.
As per the new version, sugar-free products that contain sweeteners instead of sugar is required to be clearly indicated with the information of using "sweeteners" as well as the "calorie content". For example:
Example: Zero sugar -> Zero sugar (sweeteners contained, 000kcal) 제로슈거 -> 제로슈거(감미료 함유, 000kcal) |
In addition, the scope of sweeteners whose names are required to be labelled along with the usage purpose, such as “Aspartame (sweetener)”, is expanded from 5 to 22 types. The authority expects to help consumers easily recognize the purpose of food additives.
Details are as follows:
Sweeteners whose names are required to be labelled along with the usage purpose (Previous) | Sweeteners whose names are required to be labelled along with the usage purpose (Revised, effective on January 1, 2026) |
Sodium Saccharin (사카린나트륨) Aspartame (아스파탐) Disodium Glycyrrhizinate (글리실리진산이나트륨) Sucralose (수크랄로스) Acesulfame Potassium (아세설팜칼륨)
| Sodium Saccharin (사카린나트륨) Aspartame (아스파탐) Disodium Glycyrrhizinate (글리실리진산이나트륨) Sucralose (수크랄로스) Acesulfame Potassium (아세설팜칼륨) Licorice Extract (감초추출물) (newly inserted) Neotame (네오탐) (newly inserted) D-Ribose (D-리보오스) (newly inserted) Steviol Glycoside (스테비올배당체) (newly inserted) D-Xylose (D-자일로오스) (newly inserted) 토마틴 (Thaumatin) (newly inserted) Enzymatically Modified Stevia (효소처리스테비아) (newly inserted) Lactitol (락티톨) (newly inserted) Mannitol (만니톨) (newly inserted) D-Maltitol (D-말티톨) (newly inserted) Maltitol Syrup (말티톨시럽) (newly inserted) D-Sorbitol (D-소비톨) (newly inserted) D-Sorbitol Solution (D-소비톨액) (newly inserted) Erythritol (에리스리톨) (newly inserted) Isomalt (이소말트) (newly inserted) Xylitol (자일리톨) (newly inserted) Polyglycitol Syrup (폴리글리시톨시럽) (newly inserted) |
(3) Improving the labeling method of alcohol calorie
From January 1, 2026, the calorie of alcoholic products shall be displayed in font sizes of 12 points or larger in bold, making it more visible for consumers to check. For example:
360ml(330kcal) → 360ml(330kcal) |
(4) Clarifying the terminology for infants and young children food
Reasonable improvements have been made in the new version for the labeling of infants and young children's food. Currently, food for infants and young children is managed under separate standards, such as manufacturing standards, hygiene indicator bacteria requirements, food poisoning bacteria requiremnts, etc. However, there are no requirements on labeling the "food for the infant and young children" on the products.
Therefore, MFDS established the legal grounds for indicating "food for the infant and young children(영·유아용 식품)" on products designed for infants and young children. This provision will be implemented on January 1, 2026.
(5) Other Modifications
Clarification of the scope of natural coloring agents whose color value should be labeled:
Only the natural coloring agents that have color value content standards specified in the Standards and Specifications for Food Additives2 are required to have the color value displayed.
Establishment of allowable tolerance range for essential fatty acids:
For the 3 essential fatty acids (linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, EPA+DHA) that are required to be indicated on the food package, the allowable tolerance range between the labelled value and actual value is established. The actual measured value shall be at least 80% of the labeled amount.
Relaxation of labeling standards for blended edible oils:
Allowance will be given to using the name of the main ingredient in the product name for blended edible oil. In order words, the product name can contain a major ingredient used in the blended oil. However, the quantities of all edible oils shall be clearly labeled to prevent consumer's misunderstanding or confusion.
Clarification of the labeling requirements for producing refrigerated food by defrosting frozen foods:
When the product contains any ingredients made via simply defrosting the frozen materials or dividing the defrosted frozen materials into smaller packages, the defrosting fact shall be indicated on the product for consumers' reference.
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