Tips For Identifying Nutritional Information
Food labels are already difficult to understand and add in another language and it can become an almost impossible task. Whether you’re looking for products free-from one of the major top allergens or have a dietary restriction, these tips will help you with label transparency. Bookmark this page for tips to use the next time you order groceries online or browse the food aisles.
After you’re done reading this post check out the Korean Convenience product page, it features 300+ Korean products: brand name, food allergies, ingredients, weight, calories, and cross-contamination statements when available.
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What’s On The Front
On the front of most prepackaged products the letter fonts are written in various colors, shapes, and sizes. Important tips to remember are the word that are written the largest is usually the name of the product. What is written directly underneath is usually the flavor of the product i.e. spicy, peanut, or sweet or a popular catchphrase.
Product Certifications
According to the Food and Drug Administration the “HACCP is a systematic approach to the identification, evaluation, and control of food safety hazards based on seven principles.”
There are several product certifications Korean products can display. Popular certifications include: No-MSG, Vegan, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, and Halal.
Weight and Calories
The food weight is the actual size of the Korean snack or grocery product. Because food can come in different shapes, and sizes knowing the amount of carbs by weight can be useful information for anyone managing a food allergy, intolerance or medical condition.
Calorie information can also be another useful tool for people who are counting calories, or need this information to better manage their medical conditions. HealthLine has written an extensive article on Kcal vs Calories Differences. To read the full article check it out here.
Korean Manufacturers
There are several popular manufacturers from South Korea. Some of the organizations have business in South Korea and abroad such as in the United States.
Popular brand names you will see on packages include:
- Binggrae
- CJ Foods
- Crown
- Daesang
- Dr. Chung’s Food
- Dongwon F&B
- E-mart
- Lotte
- Maeil
- Nongshim
- Orion
- Ottogi
- Our Home
- Paldo
- Pulmuone
- Samyang
*Please be aware there are additional companies that are not mentioned in the list above.
Expiration & Manufactured Dates
One of the key differences for consumers may be how the day, month, and year are written on the packages. A lot of countries in Asia follow the hierarchical system and use the DD-MM-YYYY format.
What’s On The Back
You want to make healthier choices, but you can’t understand the ingredient label. Here are some tips to help you translate the back of the food package.
Nutrition Facts Label English & Hangul Translation
Additional Terms
Listed below are additional terms that you might need help translating.
- Product Name – 제품명
- Item Report Number – 품목보고번호
- Packaging Material – 포장재질
- Shelf Life – 유통기한
- Raw Material Name/Ingredients 원재료명
Country Of Origin
Words that are enclosed within parentheses are usually countries where the ingredients contained within the product originates. Popular countries include:
- United States – 미국산
- Australia – 호주산
- Austria – 오스트리아
- Belgium – 벨기에
- Brazil – 브라질
- Canada – 캐나다
- Chile – 칠레
- China – 중국
- Denmark – 덴마크
- Dutch – 네덜란드산
- France – 프랑스
- Germany – 독일
- Greece – 그리스
- Hong Kong – 홍콩
- India – 인도
- Indonesia – 인도네시아
- Italy – 이탈리아
- Japan – 일본
- Malaysia – 말레이시아산
- Philippines – 필리핀 제도
- South Korea – 대한민국
- Spain – 스페인
- Thailand – 태국산
- Vietnam – 베트남
- United Kingdom – 칠레
Looking for information about Korean snacks? Get the Korean Convenience app on the App Store or Google Play Store
Food Allergens
On most packages, there is an allergy label. They are the last words written within the ingredients sections and are usually highlighted by a different background color. Things to remember:
Popular colors include white, yellow, and black.
Ingredients are separated by commas. Top allergens include:
Top 9 Major Allergens in the United States
- Dairy – 우유
- Egg – 달걀
- Fish – 생선
- Peanuts – 땅콩
- Sesame – 깨
- Shellfish – 조개
- Soybean: 콩
- Tree Nuts – 견과류
- Wheat – 밀가루
Food Allergens Listed Specific to South Korea
- Almond – 아몬드
- Buckwheat – 메밀
- Celery – 셀러리
- Corn – 옥수수
- Mustard – 머스타드
- Peach – 복숭아
- Pine Nuts – 잣
- Plum – 자두
- Tomato – 토마토
Meat and Seafood – Terms on South Korean Allergen Labels
- Abalone – 전복
- Beef – 소고기
- Chicken – 치킨 / 닭고기
- Crab – 게
- Mackerel – 고등어
- Mussels – 홍합
- Oysters – 굴
- Pork – 돼지 고기
- Shrimp – 쉬림프
Manufacture Statements
제품과 같은 시설에서 제조하고 있습니다. = Manufactured in the same facility as the product.
Ministry Of Food & Drug Safety
To contact the Ministry Of Food & Drug Safety call +82-43-719-1564 (in English) and speak to someone regarding further Korean snack and grocery prepackaged product concerns.
Are you looking for more information read the Food Labeling System read the article from the Ministry Of Food & Drug Safety website.
Final Thoughts
No matter which country you live in, it’s important to do research what you read on the back of nutrition labels especially when you have a food allergy or dietary condition. While it might be time-consuming to read health claims, ingredients, or nutritional information that can be displayed on packages, it’s important to make the best decision possible.
I would love to hear your comments down below. Do you feel this post is helpful to read Korean food labels? Also, what food packaging information would you add to assist people who love Korean food?
Related Reading:
Korean Manufacturers Food Allergen Statements
Allergy Friendly Korean Alcohol Guide
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