Growing Frozen Fried Rice Market... Nutritional Components Insufficient for a Single Meal

Korea Consumer Agency's Survey Results on 25 Products

Frozen Fried Rice Product Purchase Selection Guide. (Photo by Korea Consumer Agency)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chunhan] Although the market for frozen fried rice, which can be conveniently consumed, is growing recently, it has been found that the nutritional content is insufficient for a meal and the sodium content is high.

On the 10th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that this was the result of an investigation of 25 frozen fried rice products preferred by consumers. The calories per serving ranged from 219 to 510 kcal, which is only 33-76% of the nutritional standard for one meal (667 kcal). Carbohydrate content ranged from 33 to 99 g, which is 31-92% of the standard, and protein was 7.9 to 20.1 g, which is 44-112% of the standard. Fat content was only 3.1 to 14.8 g, which is 17-82% of the standard.

For calories and carbohydrate content per serving, Cheonil Food’s Sobulgogi Bokkeumbap II was the highest, and Daesang’s Lightly Chicken Breast Konjac Fried Rice was the lowest. Protein content was highest in Heodak’s Chicken Breast Vegetable Konjac Fried Rice and lowest in Ottogi’s Delicious Shrimp Fried Rice. Fat content was highest in Harim’s Original Texture Chicken Breast Fried Rice.

The product with the highest sodium content was Coupang’s private brand (PB) subsidiary CPLB’s Gomgom Sobulgogi Fried Rice, at 242% of the meal standard, while Daesang’s Lightly Chicken Breast Konjac Fried Rice had the lowest.

Homeplus Signature Sobulgogi Fried Rice (saturated fat content), Ourhome Sobulgogi Fried Rice (protein content), and Heodak Chicken Breast Vegetable Konjac Fried Rice (sodium content) required improvements in nutritional labeling. Ourhome and Heodak stated they would improve the nutritional labeling, and Homeplus said it would strengthen quality to ensure the nutritional content matches the product labeling.

The Consumer Agency recommended correction for Daesang Homings Beef Fried Rice and Wise UX Global’s I’m Well Chicken Breast Vegetable Fried Rice, as they were labeled to be cooked in the packaging. Cooking in the packaging using a microwave carries risks such as burns, so caution is necessary.