China-made ice bar popular in Korea caught in tar dye controversy

Merong Bar / Captured from GS25's social media

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A Chinese ice cream bar that has sold more than five million units in Korea has come under scrutiny after consumers learned it contains tar-based food dyes that the European Union associates with potential health risks.

The product, known as Merong Bar, is marketed as a “tongue-shaped ice bar” and turns into a jelly-like texture when it melts. Its playful design and cheeky name have made it especially popular among young children and social media users.

According to GS25, which began officially importing the product in September, Merong Bar sold more than five million units within two months of release. A strawberry-flavored version that followed reached No. 2 in nationwide ice cream sales during its first week. CU and 7-Eleven later joined the import wave.

Concerns emerged when consumers learned the ice cream uses “tar dyes,” synthetic colorants derived from coal tar components such as benzene and naphthalene. These dyes are widely used to enhance the appearance of processed foods, including ice cream, snacks and beverages, but several variants have been banned in parts of Europe and the United States.

The colorants used in Merong Bar include Blue No. 1, Yellow No. 4, and Red No. 40, all of which are currently permitted in Korea. However, the EU considers Yellow No. 4 a substance that may trigger asthma, and allows only limited intake of Blue No. 1 because it may affect hyperactivity in children. In the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services has also included Blue No. 1 among six dyes under regulatory review.

The situation sparked debate over why ingredients restricted overseas are appearing in one of Korea’s top-selling ice cream products. In response, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it will conduct a “reevaluation of standards and specifications for food additives,” including colorants, beginning in January 2026. Under food safety law, such reviews occur every five years, with the last cycle completed in 2019.

The ministry said it will reassess the safety and appropriate use of food dyes through the upcoming review. Officials acknowledge the renewed evaluation was partly prompted by rising public concern following Merong Bar’s rapid popularity.

Jang Hong-je, a chemistry professor at Kwangwoon University, said on his YouTube channel Chemophilia, which has more than 100,000 subscribers, that the EU uses Red No. 40 in limited quantities and that “only some studies suggest a possible hypersensitivity reaction.” He added, however, that “there is no such thing as absolute safety.”

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.