Low-Sugar Foods with Sweeteners Prohibited from Claiming 'Blood Sugar Control'

Low-sugar foods containing sweeteners will no longer be allowed to display labels indicating they contain functional ingredients or components that suppress postprandial blood sugar spikes.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on October 23 that it has revised the Regulation on Functional Labeling or Advertising of Foods, etc. That Are Not Deemed False or Exaggerated Labeling or Advertising.

The revised regulation is set to take effect on January 1, 2028.

The ministry revised the regulations out of concern that if carbonated drinks formulated with sweeteners to meet low-sugar standards bear claims of suppressing postprandial blood sugar spikes, consumers might mistake or confuse them as products helpful for managing postprandial blood sugar.

Consequently, low-sugar foods using sweeteners will be restricted from displaying claims that they contain functional ingredients or components that suppress postprandial blood sugar spikes.

This means that even if such products contain indigestible maltodextrin, which is used as a functional ingredient to suppress postprandial blood sugar increases, this functional claim cannot be made on low-sugar foods that use sweeteners.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We expect this institutional improvement will help consumers more accurately understand product characteristics and make more rational choices."

(Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.