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"Raw Milk 00%" Labeling Requirement in the Works
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Labels Likely to List Dairy Ingredients, Including Milk Powder, Alongside Raw Milk

Processed milk products such as chocolate milk and strawberry milk can be labeled as "milk" even when they contain no raw milk, fueling what has been called the "fake milk" controversy. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is moving to make labeling the raw milk content mandatory. It plans to require clear labeling of dairy ingredients made from raw milk so consumers can make informed decisions when purchasing products.

According to industry sources on November 11, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held its first meeting on November 5 with representatives of the dairy industry to discuss strengthening the labeling of raw milk and other dairy ingredients in processed milk products. The move follows concerns that consumers may see product names such as "milk" or "milk" and assume the products contain a substantial amount of raw milk, even though some processed milk products contain none or less than half. Major dairy companies, including Seoul Dairy Cooperative, Namyang Dairy Products, Maeil Dairies, and Binggrae, reportedly attended the meeting.

The Ministry has settled on a plan to require labeling of the raw milk and powdered milk content and is discussing the details. It is also considering requiring manufacturers to distinguish other dairy ingredients, such as milk fat and whey powder, and indicate the proportion of each. To this end, it is surveying the detailed list of raw-milk-based ingredients currently used by the industry.

Processed milk is a milk beverage made by pasteurizing or sterilizing raw milk or dairy products used as its main ingredients, with sugars, fruit juice, coloring, and other ingredients added. Under current food labeling regulations, processed milk made entirely from powdered milk without raw milk may still use the word "milk" in its product name if it meets the relevant requirements. This follows a 2012 authoritative interpretation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs that processed milk could be labeled as milk because its composition is similar. The interpretation took into account that, even without raw milk, such products contain milk components through ingredients derived from raw milk, such as nonfat dry milk, milk cream, and whey powder.

As a result, processed milk products with no raw milk or only extremely low levels of it have also used the label "milk." In April, The Asia Business Daily analyzed the raw milk content of 50 processed milk products sold through online channels and found that 5 products, or 10% of those surveyed, contained no raw milk. In addition, 24 products, nearly half of those surveyed, contained 50% raw milk or less. Excluding products whose manufacturers refused to disclose the information, the share of products containing 50% raw milk or less was as high as 57%. (Related article: "I thought it was just milk"... The "Korea Fake Milk List" turned out to be real [Taste Expert X-File])

Product descriptions on online sales channels for these products included promotional phrases about raw milk, such as claims that manufacturers carefully manage their raw milk, "fresh milk," and "Grade 1A raw milk from a dedicated farm." This could lead consumers to misunderstand what the products contain.

In processed milk products, nonfat dry milk, blended powdered milk, milk fat, whey powder, and other ingredients are used in place of raw milk. From manufacturers' perspective, nonfat dry milk, which has had its moisture removed and can be stored at room temperature for long periods, is easier to store and distribute than raw milk, a fresh product. Using imported nonfat dry milk can also lower unit and storage costs compared with domestic products. Industry sources say powdered milk is also sometimes used to ensure a consistent taste, given that the taste of raw milk varies by season.

Taking these factors into account, the Ministry appears to have decided to include other dairy ingredients in the labeling requirements, rather than making disclosure of raw milk content mandatory alone. After the issue was raised during last month's parliamentary audit, Oh Yu-kyung, Minister of Food and Drug Safety, said, "We will review and discuss the need to improve the labeling of raw milk content to ensure consumers' right to know."

The Ministry will decide when to introduce mandatory labeling of the content of raw milk and other ingredients after discussions that take into account, among other things, when the industry will be ready. Industry sources expect the requirements can be introduced under the current regulations without a separate legal amendment, so implementation is not likely to take long. A Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official said, "We plan to move forward while discussing the details."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.