Franchise malatang contains 2.7 times recommended daily sodium intake
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A spicy Chinese-style soup sold by major franchise chains in Korea can contain sodium equivalent to 2.7 times the recommended daily intake, an investigation found.
The Korea Consumer Agency released the findings Tuesday after examining the nutritional content of malatang from 20 franchise chains. According to the report, a single bowl contained an average of 5,380 milligrams of sodium, equivalent to 269 percent of the recommended daily intake of 2,000 milligrams. Each bowl also contained an average of 49 grams of fat, or approximately 90.7 percent of the recommended daily intake.
The agency pointed out that actual sodium and fat intake could be much higher, as serving sizes varied widely among the franchises, ranging from 842 grams to 1,945 grams. The saltiest malatang contained as much as 11,192 milligrams of sodium, while the least salty contained 3,251 milligrams. Likewise, the amount of fat in each bowl ranged from 16 grams to 95 grams.
Bowls of malatang from 20 major franchise chains in Korea are displayed with identifying signs at the Korea Consumer Agency’s Seoul-Gangwon Regional Office in Songpa District, Seoul, on Aug. 11. Newsis
A bowl contained an average of 952 calories, 81 grams of carbohydrates and 52 grams of fat. The carbohydrates and protein were equivalent to 25 percent and 96.4 percent of their respective recommended daily intakes.
The report indicated numerous adverse reactions to malatang, many of which were associated with gastrointestinal problems due to the high spice and sodium levels. Of 522 malatang-related incidents reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System between January 2021 and May 2026, 434 involved complaints of heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea or other digestive problems.
The examination also found that many ingredients widely associated with allergic reactions, such as peanuts, were used to make sauces for the products, but eight of the 20 franchise chains investigated provided no information or warnings about allergens.
Based on the findings, the agency recommended that malatang franchise chains take steps to reduce sodium and fat in their products and introduce in-store labeling of allergens. It also advised consumers to choose ingredients such as vegetables and tofu and, whenever possible, eat mostly solid ingredients rather than consuming all the broth.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.