Gov't tightens labeling rules for decaffeinated coffee, alcohol products

A promotional poster for tightened government rules on food labeling standards required for decaffeinated coffee and alcohol products / Courtesy of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

For coffee drinkers and grocery shoppers in Korea, the fine print on the packaging is about to get a lot clearer.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety unveiled Tuesday a set of revised labeling standards designed to eliminate consumer confusion over decaffeinated coffee and to prevent alcoholic beverages from being mistaken for ordinary food products. The move is part of a broader regulatory overhaul aimed at aligning domestic food safety metrics with international benchmarks.

Under the new rules, the "decaffeinated" label will now be reserved exclusively for coffee products where the residual caffeine in the beans measures 0.1 percent or less on a dry-weight basis. The previous standard was significantly more lenient, allowing the label if 90 percent of the caffeine had been removed. Regulators noted that the old rule often left a gap between consumer expectations and reality: if a starting batch of beans was exceptionally high in caffeine, the "decaffeinated" end product could still pack a surprising punch.

The shift brings Korea’s caffeine standards into harmony with those of the United States and several European markets.

The ministry is also taking aim at a more modern marketing trend: "collaborative" liquors. In recent years, Korean convenience store shelves have been flooded with alcoholic drinks designed in partnership with food and beverage brands, often packaged in cans or bottles that mimic the aesthetic of sodas, juices, or even dairy products.

To prevent accidental consumption — particularly by minors or those mistaking a cocktail for a soft drink — these products must now feature the word "liquor" or "alcoholic beverage" in at least 20-point type on the front of the packaging. The warning must be printed in a color that stands out sharply against the background.

"We expect this revision to improve the reliability of labeling and reduce the risk of consumers mistaking alcohol-containing products for ordinary foods," Oh Yu-kyoung, the commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, said in a statement. The agency indicated it would continue to tighten labeling requirements to ensure that what a consumer sees on the shelf is exactly what they get in the glass.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.