CJ CheilJedang Supports Rare Disease Patients for 17 Years with "Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice"

Reduced Protein Content to One-Tenth for PKU Patients Since 2009
Produced Out of Social Responsibility Over Profitability... 2.7 Million Units Sold to Date

CJ CheilJedang has been supporting children suffering from rare diseases for 17 years through its "Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice."

Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice is a product developed for people with congenital metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria (PKU). The protein content has been reduced to one-tenth of regular Hetbahn (white rice). The product was launched in 2009 following a suggestion from an employee who had a child with this condition.

Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice requires a special process in which protein is broken down over 24 hours after milling the rice, making the production time more than 10 times longer than that of regular Hetbahn. Although production efficiency is low and profitability is limited, CJ CheilJedang has produced approximately 2.7 million units of Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice out of a sense of social responsibility and mission.

In addition, since 2010, CJ CheilJedang has participated every year in the PKU Patient and Family Camp, hosted by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association, providing Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice for participants' meals and making separate donations. This year, the company sponsored the 23rd "PKU Family Growth Camp for Nurturing Dreams and Hopes," held for two days from July 10 in Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province, by donating Hetbahn Low-Protein Rice products and a contribution worth 10 million won.

PKU is a rare disease that occurs in about one out of every 60,000 newborns. Babies born with this condition lack the enzyme needed to break down amino acids (proteins), so if they consume phenylalanine, a protein component, metabolic byproducts accumulate in the body, which can lead to disabilities or, in severe cases, death. For this reason, patients must maintain a lifelong diet free of phenylalanine and cannot eat white rice.

Kim Yurim, head of the Hetbahn team at CJ CheilJedang, said, "As the leading company in the instant rice market, we will continue to fulfill our social responsibility and mission by carrying out various social contribution activities that help improve the nation's dietary habits."