Seoul Moves to Tighten Rules on “Decaf” Coffee After Consumer Complaints

“Decaf” Coffee Often Isn’t: South Korea to Crack Down on Misleading Labels (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Korea Bizwire) —  South Korea’s food safety regulator plans to introduce stricter labeling standards for decaffeinated coffee following growing concerns that many products marketed as “decaf” still contain significant amounts of caffeine.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced Thursday that it will revise national labeling rules to allow coffee products to be labeled as “decaffeinated” only if the remaining caffeine content in the beans is 0.1 percent or less.

Under current regulations, any coffee that has had at least 90 percent of its caffeine removed can be sold as “decaffeinated” or “low caffeine.” The standard has long faced criticism for being misleading, as caffeine levels in coffee beans vary widely.

Beans naturally high in caffeine may still retain considerable amounts after the decaffeination process, leading some sensitive consumers to experience symptoms like heart palpitations or restlessness.

“I thought decaf meant there was no caffeine at all, but some brands make my heart race,” said one Seoul resident who drinks coffee twice a day. “It depends on where I buy it.”

Coffee has become an indispensable part of life for Koreans. With an average annual consumption of 405 cups per person—more than twice the global average—it has evolved beyond a simple beverage into a daily ritual and cultural staple. (Yonhap)

Consumer complaints have prompted the MFDS to align its rules with international standards already adopted in countries like the United States and Germany, which limit residual caffeine in decaffeinated coffee to 0.1 percent.

“More people are choosing decaf coffee for health reasons, but current standards allow for large differences in caffeine levels depending on the beans used,” said Oh Yoo-kyung, commissioner of the MFDS. “The revised guideline will bring greater transparency and consumer confidence.”

The agency plans to amend its official labeling guidelines, Standards for Marking and Advertising of Foods, by March next year.

Officials said the tighter rule will help ensure consistency across the coffee industry and reassure consumers that beverages labeled as decaffeinated are truly low in caffeine.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)