Law firm Veat, Ju-hyeong Senior Fellow, "Domestic export food needs to redesign labels and advertisements to meet FDA standards."
Article posted in 2025-03-21 12:55:27 | VEAT
Law firm Veat's Lee Joo-hyeong, Global Food Industry Expert, contributed a column titled ‘Changes and Opportunities for Food Companies Due to the GLP-1 Typhoon’ to the Food and Beverage News.
The following is a summary of the column, and those who are interested in the full text should refer to the link at the bottom.
Food products targeting GLP-1 users must comply with the strict regulations of the US FDA and USDA. Product composition focuses on nutrient content and health claims. For example, Nestle's Vital Pursuit aims to solve nutritional deficiencies in users by increasing protein and fiber content and reducing calories.
However, directly labeling it as "for GLP-1 users" can be mistaken for a drug, so instead, nutrient content claims such as "high protein" and "nutritional balance" are used. This complies with FDA labeling regulations and avoids controversy over exaggeration.
On the label, the boundary between health claims and structure/function claims is important. A health claim such as "helps with weight loss" requires scientific evidence and FDA approval, but a structure/function claim such as "supports satiety" is relatively flexibly applicable. Companies are choosing the latter to reduce regulatory burdens. For example, Vital Pursuit labeled it as "suitable for weight management" instead of "GLP-1."
Advertising is subject to FTC regulations. To claim a direct association with GLP-1 drugs, reliable scientific evidence is required, otherwise it can be considered false advertising. Nestle avoids mentioning drugs in TV commercials or social media and instead emphasizes the message of "healthy eating companion." Advertising using influencers must clearly disclose financial relationships, and overstating weight loss effects can lead to legal risks.
Korean companies exporting to markets such as the United States should pay attention to a few things.
Law firm Veat’s Lee Joo-hyeong, Expert is actively engaged based on his legal expertise as a Doctor of Law and a deep understanding of domestic and international food safety and regulatory fields. He served as an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Food Safety Regulatory Science at Chung-Ang University and Director of the Policy Research Lab at the Food Safety Information Agency, and is currently actively engaged as Head of the Global Food Industry Support Division and Expert at Law firm Veat.
Furthermore, he participates as an expert in various government agencies and academic organizations, including the Future Medical Expedition Future Prediction Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Food Safety Policy Committee of the State Council, the Self-Regulation Review Committee of the MFDS, and the Food Science and Technology Association Food Policy/Law Division Secretary, and holds qualifications such as US FSVP-QI, PCHF–PCQI/FSPCA, and provides in-depth expertise in global food industry regulations.
Law firm Veat provides professional legal advice based on broad legal knowledge regarding various legal issues related to the increasingly growing food service industry. In addition, it provides in-depth advice on legal matters related to food service operations, such as food regulations compliance and contract drafting, and supports companies preparing or operating health functional foods, food, and pharmaceutical businesses to check legal risks in advance and operate businesses stably.
If you need advice on agricultural and food industry regulations, please contact Law firm Veat.
Thank you.
Law firm Veat