[Press Release, Jun 18, 2020 / unofficial translation] Minister of Food and Drug Safety, Lee Eui-Kyung, visits Home Meal Replacement company - Discusses measures to improve system regarding the establishment of new types of meal kit products; also asks for thorough hygiene control - □ The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that the Minister Lee Eui-Kyung visited Fresheasy Co., a home meal replacement manufacturer in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, on June 18 to examine the manufacturing sites of meal kit products* and listen to the difficulties of industry officials. * Products that are made easy for consumers to cook and eat since prepared ingredients such as vegetables, spices and recipes are enclosed. ○ The on-site visit was arranged to check the safety management of meal kit products, whose popularity is growing due to the expansion of non face-to-face consumption ? people cook themselves at home ?amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and listen to opinions of industry officials. * Production of Home Meal Replacement: (2017) 2.7 trillion won → (2018) 3 trillion → (2024, expected) 8 trillion won (18% annual average growth) * Among Home Meal Replacement products, the newly emerging market for meal kit products stood at only 20 billion won in 2017, but is expected to grow to 700 billion won in 2024. ○ During the visit, Minister Lee will meet manufacturers of meal kit, including home meal replacement products and patient meals, to listen to their difficulties and suggestions, and seek ways to support revitalization of the home meal replacement industry. - Major discussions include ▲the establishment of new food types for the meal kit ▲the establishment of criteria and standards considering the characteristics of natural products and ▲the improvement of methods for reporting of manufacturing meal kit items. * Meal kit contains natural products. So it is difficult to apply the same hygiene standards on bacteria and coliform with processed foods. ○ The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been improving safety standards for home meal replacement products by drawing up standards for manufacturing and processing of lunch boxes and setting conditions for defrosting frozen marine products. - The ministry, based on the results of the ongoing inspection of pollution level of benzopyrene and heavy metals from home meal replacement, plans to revise the relevant criteria and standards. □ Minister Lee Eui-Kyung said during the visit, "I ask for thorough hygiene control so that people can eat meal kit products without concerns." "The ministry will actively support the development of meal kit-type products by establishing new types of products so that there is no difficulty in product development and market expansion."