“Zero sugar” soju, a Korean distilled rice liquor marketed as sugar-free, offers little advantage in terms of calories or sugar content compared to regular soju. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 2 (Korea Bizwire) – An investigation by the Korea Consumer Agency has revealed that “zero sugar” soju, a Korean distilled rice liquor marketed as sugar-free, offers little advantage in terms of calories or sugar content compared to regular soju.
In a test of five zero-sugar soju brands sold in South Korea, the agency confirmed that no sugar was detected in these products, as claimed on the labels. However, regular soju varieties were also found to contain minimal sugar levels, averaging only 0.12 grams per 100 milliliters.
According to the labeling standards set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, products with less than 4 calories per 100 milliliters can be labeled as “calorie-free,” while those with less than 0.5 grams of sugar per 100 grams or milliliters can be labeled as “sugar-free.”
When considering alcohol content, the caloric differences between zero-sugar and regular soju were also found to be negligible. The caloric value of zero-sugar soju was between 2.85 percent (2.6 calories) and 13.87 percent (14.7 calories) lower per 100 milliliters compared to regular soju.
The Korea Consumer Agency attributed this marginal difference to variations in alcohol content, with zero-sugar soju ranging from 0.5 to 2.6 degrees lower in alcohol by volume, equating to a caloric reduction of 2.77 to 14.38 calories per 100 milliliters, respectively. The agency clarified that the caloric difference was not due to variations in sugar content.
These findings contrast with consumer perceptions. A survey conducted by the agency involving 2,000 adults revealed that 68.6 percent believed zero-sugar soju would have significantly lower calorie counts compared to regular varieties.
In contrast, the agency found that 20 beverage products marketed as “zero sugar” or “zero calorie” exhibited a substantial reduction in calories and sugar content when compared to regular beverages. On average, these products contained 39.83 fewer calories (98.14 percent) and 9.89 grams less sugar (99.36 percent) per 100 milliliters, effectively meeting the “zero” claim, unlike their soju counterparts.
The agency also raised concerns about the potential for consumer confusion regarding the labeling of “non-alcoholic” and “alcohol-free” beers. While the ministry’s guidelines stipulate that products with 0 percent alcohol content should be labeled “alcohol-free” and those with less than 1 percent as “non-alcoholic,” many non-alcoholic beers are widely labeled as “0.0,” leaving room for misinterpretation that they contain no alcohol at all.
The agency’s survey revealed that 83 percent of respondents were unaware of the distinction between “0.0″ and “0.00″ labeling, and 52.3 percent perceived “non-alcoholic” to mean completely alcohol-free.
In response, the Korea Consumer Agency plans to consult with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, to explore options for improving labeling standards. These could include removing the “0.0″ designation from non-alcoholic beers or explicitly stating the alcohol content to enhance transparency and reduce consumer confusion.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
