The World Institute of Kimchi announced on Nov 30 that Trechan Co., Ltd. (CEO Kyungmi Yoon), a kimchi manufacturer, will release 'Functional Labeling Kimchi No. 1', which is indicated to help the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria and bowel movements.

In the meantime, although kimchi has been scientifically proven to have numerous health functionalities, such as anticancer and anti-obesity, etc., there have been restrictions on the functional labeling on kimchi due to the institutional limitation that functional labeling on foods can only be applied to health functional foods.

However, since Dec of last year, the functional labeling system on general foods such as kimchi was notified and enacted, and functional labeling on general foods became possible if scientific evidence was established.

※ What is the functional labeling system on general foods? It is a system to guarantee choices by providing consumers with accurate information about foods, and to increase farm household income through revitalization of the food industry and development of materials derived from domestic agricultural and livestock products, and Functional labeling is possible on foods, livestock products, and food additives that comply with the requirements and use raw materials or ingredients that show the functionality specified in the notification. (Source: Easy-to-understand general food functional labeling system, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

The World Institute of Kimchi provided technical support to Trechan Co., Ltd., a kimchi manufacturer located in Gwangju Metropolitan City, to develop 「Trechan Napa Cabbage Kimchi」, containing fructooligosaccharides that can help the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria and smooth bowel movements, which has been reviewed and registered as a functional labeling food with Korea Food Industry Association.

※ Fructooligosaccharide: A natural substance that helps the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, inhibition of harmful bacteria, and smooth bowel movement. So far, there are a total of 144 products with functional labeling general foods registered with the Korea Food Industry Association, such as rice, tofu, jelly, and beverages, etc., in particular, as a type of kimchi, “Trechan Napa Cabbage Kimchi” registered this time is the first!

The World Institute of Kimchi selected Trechan Co., Ltd. as a family company supporting technology and management for small and medium-sized kimchi manufacturers in 2018, and have provided continuous support by transferring kimchi manufacturing technology using kimchi starter that improves the taste and quality of kimchi, and technology to suppress the generation of scum.

This production of functional labeling kimchi is the result of the ‘Social Economy Innovation Growth Project’ promoted by Gwangju Technopark, and it is the fruit of joint efforts between Trechan Co., Ltd. and the World Institute of Kimchi.

「Trechan Napa Cabbage Kimchi」 containing fructooligosaccharide, the functional labeling kimchi No.1, is scheduled to be released in Korea in Jan, 2022!

Hae-choon Chang, Research Director of the World Institute of Kimchi said, "The launch of the functional labeling kimchi No.1 product is a significant step forward for the kimchi industry and is expected to serve as a signal for many kimchi manufacturers to launch new functional labeling kimchi in the future."

The World Institute of Kimchi plans to develop functional labeling kimchi products containing various ingredients together with kimchi manufacturers. Inquiries related to the functional labeling system on kimchi products can be directed to the person in charge of Industrial Support Research Center of the World Institute of Kimchi (062-610-1833, jhkim74@wikim.re.kr).