Popular Holiday Gift 'Hongsam', Know Before You Buy

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the Lunar New Year holiday begins, the demand for red ginseng, a popular holiday gift, is expected to increase. Since there are various products available, it is recommended to accurately understand which ingredients are included and which product standards are met before making a purchase.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 30th, red ginseng is a popular health functional food consumed by one in four Koreans. The raw material of red ginseng, ginseng, has traditionally been consumed for health promotion purposes in Korea as well as in China, Japan, and other countries. Fresh ginseng, white ginseng, and red ginseng are classified based on the processing method of ginseng. Red ginseng is made by steaming fresh ginseng without drying it and then drying it.

The key functional ingredient of red ginseng is "ginsenoside." This term collectively refers to saponins uniquely present in ginseng, and the total content of Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3 must be manufactured to be at least 2.5 mg per 1 g.

Consumers who want to purchase red ginseng with functional benefits such as immune enhancement and fatigue recovery improvement should be sure to check the health functional food label and mark, as well as the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) mark. Additionally, with the recent spread of COVID-19, any advertising claiming that red ginseng products prevent or treat COVID-19 or that general foods have health functional food effects is considered false advertising, so consumers should be cautious not to purchase such products.

When consuming red ginseng purchased or received as a gift, it is recommended to follow the daily intake amount to avoid excessive consumption. In particular, the functional ingredient ginsenoside in red ginseng can reduce platelet aggregation and enhance blood sugar-lowering effects, so if you are taking diabetes medication or blood anticoagulants, you must consult a doctor or expert before consumption. Also, since adverse reactions may occur depending on individual constitution and characteristics, if this happens, stop consumption and consult an expert or contact the Health Functional Food Adverse Event Reporting Center.

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