Korea focus: Krill oil, probiotics, beauty-from-within in the spotlight
Bitter krill: South Korean consumers petition for inspection on imported products amid scandals
South Korean consumers have petitioned the country’s Ministry of Foods and Drug Safety (MFDS) to inspect imported krill oil products, amid a string of scandals in the past year.
The MFDS said that it would be inspecting imported krill oil from this month till October.
A total of 112 imported products from 37 overseas manufacturers will be inspected, and special emphasis will be placed on examining whether the products contain oil and fats that are not from krill.
Formula of chokeberry, red ginseng, shiitake mushroom, and nattokinase lowers insulin resistance in prediabetic adults
A 12-week intake of a formula comprising chokeberry, red ginseng, shiitake mushroom, and nattokinase significantly lowered insulin resistance in a study conducted on prediabetic adult population.
The randomised, double-blinded clinical trial funded by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in South Korea, also found that serum inflammation markers were reduced after consumption of the formula.
These findings suggest that the formula may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce liver damage and inflammation.
Beauty banker: Korean investment expert and digital marketing specialist eye SEA’s beauty-from-within market
An investment banker, corporate manager, and digital marketing specialist have established a South Korea-based start-up specialising in beauty-from-within products that debuted in South East Asian markets recently.
Known as THE APRILAB, the start-up launched its products which address concerns across ageing, skin tone, inflammation, and acne on e-commerce platform Shopee in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. There are plans to expand to Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia in the near-term.
The products, co-developed with and manufactured by COSMAX NBT, are not yet available in South Korea. However, the company has plans to develop a flagship café in South Korea where the nutricosmetics will be sold.
Amorepacific to list green tea supplement on Amazon Global to kickstart international expansion
Amorepacific is listing its green tea probiotic supplement sold under the VITALBEAUTIE brand on Amazon Global in July, kickstarting its expansion into international markets.
The VITALBEAUTIE Green Tea Probiotics supplement was first launched in March 2020 in South Korea, and to date has sold 15 million packs.
Most of the focus last year was its domestic market, listing the supplement on e-commerce sites including Amorepacific’s official online mall (apmall.com), as well as offline beauty stores like Arituam, and home shopping channels.
WATCH: Amado Group and COSMAX on beauty, weight management trends amid COVID-19
Companies are still seeing opportunities in developing supplements that address the evergreen needs of weight management and skin protection, even as consumers tighten their purse strings and spend more on hygiene and immune health supplements.
Thailand health and wellness company Amado Group and South Korea’s dietary supplement ODM/OEM company COSMAX said in the latest episode of Nutrition Asia that they have developed new products or ingredients for weight management and skin health.
First, weight management has become a trending concern as consumers are forced to spend time indoors to curb the spread of COVID-19. This has resulted in many leading a sedentary lifestyle.
