"Throw Away Guilt About Your Body" Food Industry Introduces 'Guilt-Free' Products

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), demand for healthy and safe food has increased, leading the food industry to continuously launch health-concept "guilt-free" products. Guilt-free products are a newly coined term combining "guilt" and "free," referring to foods that are relatively low in calories, rich in nutrients, or free from additives, thereby reducing feelings of guilt about consumption.

In particular, with prolonged stay-at-home life causing lack of exercise and irregular meals to become routine, consumers have come to prefer products that are healthy yet delicious. Accordingly, companies are introducing various products emphasizing wholesome ingredients to target the market.

According to the industry on the 23rd, Shinsegae Food has started importing and selling the popular Vietnamese carbonated drink "Blue Monkey Watermelon Juice Sparkling." Blue Monkey Watermelon Juice Sparkling is characterized by using 55% pure watermelon juice instead of watermelon flavoring or concentrate, allowing consumers to enjoy the cool and sweet taste of watermelon as is. Additionally, carbonated water and lemon juice are added to provide a tingling refreshing sensation and tanginess. Notably, it contains no additives such as sugar, synthetic flavorings, or colorants, and is rich in magnesium and vitamin B, making it an ideal healthy beverage for hydration during summer.

Lotte Confectionery has launched Korea's first vegan-certified ice cream. "Natuur Vegan Ice Cream" comes in two flavors: the refreshing "Coconut Pineapple" and the nutty "Cashew Vanilla." Instead of milk or eggs, it uses purely plant-based ingredients such as coconut milk, cashew nut paste, and natural guar gum, achieving the texture and taste of regular ice cream.

Haitai htb has released "Sunkist Aroma Water," a beverage that replenishes hydration and can be consumed instead of water. Sunkist Aroma Water is available in two varieties: "Lemon Myrtle," which offers both lemon and herbal scents, and "Peach," filled with fresh peach aroma. Aroma Water contains zero calories, enabling healthy hydration, and is characterized by containing no sugar but natural flavors.

Meal replacement products that are nutritious and light to enjoy are also being launched. Pulmuone introduced two types (thin noodles, wide noodles) of "Pulmuone Healthy Tofu Noodles," a plant-based high-protein food that can replace wheat flour noodles, a representative carbohydrate food. They can be used in various dishes according to preference and are convenient as they only require a quick rinse with water. Additionally, one pack contains 15g of plant protein, providing nearly 30% of the recommended daily protein intake for adults, making it a high-protein food.

Dongwon F&B launched three types of "Denmark Yogurt Salad." Each cup contains the dietary fiber equivalent to one apple and 15 billion probiotic lactic acid bacteria, which can help improve gut health. The three new products contain green, yellow, and purple fruits and vegetables, allowing consumers to intake a variety of nutrients beneficial for detoxification, immunity, and antioxidation.

An industry official said, "As consumers increasingly seek products that are delicious but not harmful to the body, and that do not induce guilt when eaten, products emphasizing healthy ingredients are gaining attention," adding, "Following this trend, food companies are expected to continuously launch various new products differentiated by healthiness to meet consumer expectations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.