"Heart Thumping" Worries Over? Decaf Coffee Labeling Standards to Become Stricter
Recently, more people are seeking "decaf" coffee for health reasons or a good night's sleep. However, there have been frequent cases where people still experience heart palpitations or difficulty sleeping even after drinking decaf coffee. This is because the decaf labeling standards until now have been slightly different from consumer expectations.
According to existing regulations, a product could be labeled "decaf" as long as more than 90% of the caffeine was removed from the coffee beans. In other words, products could be sold as decaf even if up to 10% of the caffeine remained. For those sensitive to caffeine, even this amount can affect the body.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on the 12th that it would amend the "Food Labeling Standards." The core of this amendment is to change the decaf labeling standards to be clearer and stricter so that consumers do not feel confused when choosing products.
In the future, the "decaf" label can only be applied to products with much lower caffeine content. The MFDS plans to strengthen the standards for residual caffeine levels, allowing consumers to feel safe choosing products that contain almost no caffeine.
This measure is expected to provide more accurate information for pregnant women and caffeine-sensitive individuals who need to be careful about their caffeine intake. The MFDS stated that it will continue to improve the food labeling system for the health and safety of the public.