As Outdoor Activities Decrease Due to COVID-19... Popular Comfortable Snacks Rich in 'Dietary Fiber'

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Recently, since the COVID-19 pandemic, as outdoor activities have decreased and indoor activities have increased in duration, the number of people complaining of indigestion and constipation has significantly risen. The main factors are the shift from offline activities to online classes or remote work, leading to long hours of sitting and a sharp decrease in physical activity.

In response, the food and beverage industry is focusing on so-called "stomach-friendly snacks" rich in dietary fiber. Especially targeting consumers who find it difficult to set aside time to prepare food, products in the form of drinks or snacks that allow easy intake of dietary fiber in daily life are attracting attention.

Dole Korea’s ‘VF37 One Clear Day’ is a juice that blends 37 kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits, capturing the original taste and nutrients of the produce, as the product name suggests. It uses 30 kinds of vegetables and 7 kinds of diverse fruits that are generally hard to consume, such as red beet, dandelion, and white grape. Notably, one pack (120ml) contains about 1600mg of dietary fiber, allowing modern people to conveniently consume dietary fiber anytime and anywhere, which is often lacking.

A representative from Dole’s processed food division said, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers spend more time indoors, the importance of dietary fiber is increasingly emphasized.”

Lotte Chilsung Beverage launched ‘Chilsung Cider Plus,’ a version of Chilsung Cider containing dietary fiber. Chilsung Cider Plus is a functional food containing 'indigestible maltodextrin dietary fiber,' known to help suppress post-meal blood sugar spikes, improve blood triglyceride levels, and promote smooth bowel movements. It features added functional ingredients and reduced calories while maintaining the original product’s taste and aroma.

Hite Jinro Beverage’s zero-calorie barley tea ‘Black Barley Light,’ made from domestically grown black barley, is excellent for replenishing body fluids and quenching thirst as barley tea does not have diuretic effects. It contains no caffeine, sugar, or coloring, making it a healthy drink for everyone. In particular, the main ingredient black barley has 1.5 times more dietary fiber than regular barley and is rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanins and beta-glucan.

Ottogi’s ‘Jin Bibimmyun,’ released ahead of the summer bibimmyun peak season, focused on upgrading the sauce that determines the taste by adding new ingredients like pear, plum, and radish, which were not used before, maintaining a cool spicy flavor while adding a sweet and sour taste and aroma. Additionally, the chewy and elastic noodles were fortified with protein and dietary fiber, and the weight was increased by 20%, creating differentiation.

Jung Food launched the premium soy milk ‘Vegemil Prebiotics Soy Milk’ filled with plant-derived dietary fiber. This product contains indigestible maltodextrin, known to help promote smooth bowel movements, and fructooligosaccharides, known to aid the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria and support smooth bowel movements.

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