South Korea Tightens Regulations for Decaffeinated Coffee, Set to Take Effect in 2028 – CoffeeTalk

New labeling standards for decaffeinated coffee in Korea will take effect in 2028, requiring that drinks labeled as ‘decaf’ contain 0.1 percent or less of their original caffeine content. This change addresses consumer confusion stemming from the previous guideline, which permitted coffee to be labeled decaffeinated if over 90 percent of its caffeine had been removed. As a result, coffee beans with high initial caffeine content could still contain significant residual amounts post-decaffeination. For example, a coffee with an initial caffeine level of 200 milligrams could retain 20 milligrams after processing, while another starting at 100 milligrams would retain only 10 milligrams, leading to differing caffeine levels under the same percentage removal.

To clarify these standards, Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety updated the regulations to reflect the actual caffeine content remaining in the coffee beans themselves rather than the percentage removed. This modification aligns with similar regulations in countries like the United States and aims to enhance the transparency and reliability of decaffeinated coffee labeling.

Read More @ Korea JoongAng Daily