Kimchi Gaining Popularity in U.S as Wuhan Coronavirus Antidote

Medical experts say there is no scientific basis for kimchi’s effect on the immune system. (image: TMON)

SEOUL, Feb. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — With new cases of coronavirus infection, commonly known as the Wuhan coronavirus, spreading around the world, attention is being paid to kimchi in the U.S.

This is due to the fact that the immune effects of kimchi were expressed during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

A kimchi sales event held in Los Angeles on Saturday by Korean agricultural company Lucid Kitchen was flooded with local people inquiring about buying kimchi.

Orders were placed by people from Asia such as China and Vietnam, but Americans and Latin Americans also showed interest.

A source at the event explained that the company even broadcast on home shopping channels in the region as pre-orders and purchases were made.

“Although there is controversy regarding the effectiveness of kimchi on the immune system, there seems to have been a psychological impact,” said CEO Kang Ji-young of Lucid Kitchen.

Medical experts say there is no scientific basis for kimchi’s effect on the immune system. The food industry and academia, however, are paying attention to the anti-viral effects of kimchi lactobacillus.

Furthermore, the global death toll from the 2003 SARS outbreak was also cited. While the death toll reached about 700, no one was infected in South Korea, the country where kimchi originated.

At that time, exports of kimchi to China also increased 348 percent year-on-year, which was also cited as a “kimchi effect.”

D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)