'Galbitang' and 'Bibimbap' Newly Added to Traditional Food Quality Certification List... Now Eligible for School Meal Supply

Four new items, including Galbitang and Bibimbap, have been newly added as eligible products for the Traditional Food Quality Certification. Products that have received the Traditional Food Quality Certification can be supplied to school meal programs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on December 5 that, reflecting the needs of the traditional food industry, it will add four items-Galbitang, Bibimbap, Dried Radish Salad, and Shindari-to the list of eligible products for the Traditional Food Quality Certification.

The Traditional Food Quality Certification system is a government certification for foods made with 100% domestically sourced main ingredients and produced or processed using traditional methods to deliver Korea’s unique taste, aroma, and color. With the addition of these new items, there are now a total of 80 eligible products, including sauces and kimchi, and as of this month, 414 companies have obtained quality certification for 705 products.

Products that have received the Traditional Food Quality Certification can be supplied to school meal programs, providing students with opportunities to experience high-quality traditional foods. Certified companies (hereinafter referred to as certified companies) benefit from securing school meal programs as a highly trusted major distribution channel. According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the main distribution channels for certified companies are school meal programs (20.2%) and large retail chains (14.2%), with school meal programs accounting for the largest share.

Shindari, newly added this time, is a traditional fermented beverage from Jeju Island. Although it may lack widespread popularity since it is produced by only a small number of companies in a specific region, its necessity for preservation, succession, and development as a traditional food has been recognized, leading to its inclusion.

The list of eligible traditional food products and the standard specifications for each item can be found on the website of the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service.

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