South Korea Proposes Amendments to Food Code, Involving New Food Standards and Food Hygiene

On December 24, 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) released a draft amendment to the Food Code for public consultation, open until February 24, 2025. Key proposed changes include the establishment of new food standards, revisions to hygiene regulations, and updates to residue limits for pesticides and veterinary drugs.

Key Highlights of the Draft Amendment

1. Introduction of Nutritional Formula Food for Liver Cirrhosis Patients

To address the limited scope of current patient foods, the draft introduces food types, standards, and specifications tailored for nutritional formula food for liver cirrhosis patients. This aims to enhance dietary management for these patients and provide a foundation for specialized medical food products.

Nutritional Formula Food for Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Protein-derived Energy	The energy derived from protein should account for 15–18% of the total caloric energy.
Carbohydrate-derived Energy	The energy derived from carbohydrates should account for 55% or more of the total caloric energy.
Branched-chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)	BCAAs (the sum of leucine, isoleucine, and valine) should make up 17–21% of the total protein content. Among the BCAAs, leucine should account for 50% or less.
Dietary Fiber	The dietary fiber content should be 12 g or more per 1,000 kcal of the product.
Zinc Content	The zinc content should be within the range of 8.5–17.5 mg per 1,000 kcal.
Sodium Content	The sodium content should be 1,000 mg or less per 1,000 kcal.
Caloric Density	The caloric density should be within the range of 1.3–1.5 kcal per mL (or g). For products consumed after mixing with water or other liquids, the caloric density should be applied according to the preparation method provided by the manufacturer.

2. Establishment of Cadmium Standards for Cocoa and Chocolates Products

In response to high cadmium exposure risks, the MFDS proposes new limits of cadmium in cocoa and chocolate products:

Cocoa powder: ≤2.0 mg/kg
Chocolate: ≤0.8 mg/kg

3. Revision of Foodborne Pathogen Standards for Convenient Meat Cooking Sets

Updated standards for Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in meat cooking sets are as follows:

Staphylococcus aureus: n=5, c=1, m=100, M=1,000
Vibrio parahaemolyticus: n=5, c=1, m=100, M=1,000

4. Establishment and Revision of Pesticide Residue Limits in Food

Residue limits for 137 pesticides are being established or revised, covering substances such as napropamide, novaluron, and dinotefuran. This ensures greater food safety and compliance with international standards.

(Napropamide, Novaluron, Dinotefuran, Dimethomorph, Dichlorvos, Dithianon, Dithiocarbamate, Difenoconazole, Diflubenzuron, Dimpropyridaz, Lufenuron, Myclobutanil, Mandestrobin, Mecoprof-Pi, Methamidophos, Metaflumizone, Metalaxyl, Methoxyfenozide, Metolachlor, Metaldehyde, Metconazole, Mefentrifluconazole, Mepiroxyl Chloride, Milbemectin, Validamycin A, Valifenalate, Benalaxil, Butachlor, Bupropezin, Brofanilide, Bifenazate, Bifenthrin, Cymoxanil, Cyantraniliprole, Cyanopyrafen, Cyclaniliprol, Cypermethrin, Cyprodinil, Cyflumetofen, Cyflufenamide, Cyhalothrin, Sulfoxaflor, Streptomycin, Spinetoram, Spirodiclofen, Spiromesifen, Spirotetram, Amisulbrom, Amitraz, Abamectin, Acetamiprid, Acephate, Isocycloceram, Isopetamide, Isopyrazam, Azoxystrobin, Apidopyrofen, Alachlor, Emamectin Benzoate, Etaboxam, Ethalfluralin, Etophenprox, Etoxazole, Mcpa, Oxathiapiproline, Oxolinic Acid, Oxytetracycline, Iminoctadine, Imidacloprid, Isadi, Iprodione, Indoxacarb, Cadusaphos, Carbendazim, Carbofuran, Catap, Captan, Kresoxim Methyl, Chlorantraniliprole, Chlorfenapyr, Chlorfluazuron, Clothianidin, Terbufos, Tebuconazole, Tetraniliprole, Tefluthrin, Triadimephone, Triclopyr, Trifloxystrobin, Triflumizole, Thiacloprid, Tiafenacil, Tifluzamide, Famoxadone, Fenobucarb, Fenitrothion, Pendimethalin, Phencycuron, Penthiopyrad, Fenpyrazamine, Phenhexamide, Phoxim, Prochloraz, Propamocarb, Flonicamide, Florilpicoxamide, Phlometoquine, Fludioxonil, Flubendiamide, Fluazinam, Fluazifop-Butyl, Fluopyram, Fluopicolide, Fluindapyr, Flutolanil, Flutianil, Flufenoxuron, Flupyradifuron, Fluxametamide, Fluxapyroxad, Pidiflumetofen, Pyraziflumide, Pyraclostrobin, Pyridaben, Pyridalyl, Pyrimethanil, Pyribencarb, Pyriophenone, Pyriproxyfen, Pyrifluquinazone, Pymetrozine, Picabutrazox, Picoxystrobin, Piffluvumide, Hexaconazole, Hexythiazox)

5. Revision of Veterinary Drug Residue Limits in Food

The residue limit for phenacetin is deleted, as this substance has been banned for use in food due to carcinogenicity.

6. Other revisions

Improving testing methods

Clarifying frozen food standards

Clarifying substances exempt from residue limits

Clarifying the applicability of standards for meat products and cheese

Updating the iodine content in edible tallow