MFDS expands corner stores with healthy food options

[Photo by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety]

South Korea‘s food regulator will expand the number of corner stores with special shelves displaying low-sodium and low-sugar products.

The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said on Monday that it decided to expand its initiative to install healthy food shelves in convenience stores located near schools and neighborhoods with high child traffic to 167 stores nationwide.

The ministry has implemented these initiatives in 158 convenience stores starting from 2022, mainly in the metropolitan area. It highlighted that convenience stores with healthy food shelves have seen positive results, with sales of reduced-sugar beverages increasing by about 30 percent compared to other stores.

As part of the effort to support the initiative, the MFDS will provide convenience stores with labels to help identify them as “Healthy Food Shelf” operators, alongside other related items including shelf labels and napkin dispensers.

“We plan to continue our efforts to promote a safe food environment for children by working closely with the food industry and other stakeholders,” the ministry said.