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Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
Orion to recall Cham Carp Cakes due to potential mold contamination
Orion, a major South Korean confectionery company, said Thursday it will recall all of its Cham Carp Cakes, a popular fish-shaped pie, due to potential mold contamination. The company has notified the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of the issue and requested that retailers halt sales of the product. All units produced before Wednesday are subject to the recall, Orion said, estimating that around 1.5 billion won ($1.1 million) worth of the product has already been distributed to the market. The company said the decision comes after the company received seven consumer complaints this week regarding possible mold contamination. Orion said its initial inspection indicated that the mold found in the products is not harmful to humans, but it has referred the matter to an independent organization for further testing. "We acknowledge there were flaws in our production line management and quality control systems," the company said in a public apology posted on its website. "We will take all necessary measures to improve our processes and prevent any recurrence." (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
17-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
SK bioscience Submits IND for Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of Adjuvanted Influenza Vaccine Candidate
SEONGNAM, South Korea, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SK bioscience, a global innovative vaccine and biotech company committed to promoting human health from prevention to cure, today announced that the company has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for a Phase 1/2 clinical trials of a new influenza vaccine candidate, 'NBP607B'. The candidate incorporates an adjuvant into its existing cell-based influenza vaccine, 'SKYCellflu' to enhance protective efficacy. SK bioscience previously utilized adjuvants in its COVID-19 vaccine, 'SKYCovione', and now seeks to expand this technology to influenza vaccines as part of its broader platform strategy. NBP607B contains an adjuvant developed by the Vaccine Formulation Institute (VFI), a Swiss-based non-profit vaccine research organization. Comprising multiple immune-boosting components, the adjuvant is expected to induce strong immune responses and antibody production in elderly individuals. SK bioscience has proactively conducted non-clinical studies since 2023 and reported promising results. The Phase 1/2 clinical trial is scheduled to begin during the upcoming Northern Hemisphere flu season, enrolling approximately 320 older adults in Korea and abroad. The study will evaluate the vaccine's immunogenicity and safety compared to an approved high-immunogenicity flu vaccine, with interim results expected by 2027. This marks the first attempt by a Korean company to submit an IND to develop a high-immunogenicity influenza vaccine using an adjuvant. If successful, the company plans to leverage the platform for other vaccines and establish a competitive edge in the global high-value vaccine market. The development aligns with global health authorities' increasing recommendations for enhanced flu vaccines in high-risk groups. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccines for adults aged 65 and older. The World Health Organization (WHO) also supports the use of adjuvanted vaccines for vulnerable populations. In Korea, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has indicated that domestically developed high-immunogenicity vaccines may be considered for inclusion in the National Immunization Program (NIP) if they meet appropriate criteria. According to market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global vaccine market is projected to grow from USD 83.9 billion in 2025 to USD 114.8 billion in 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 6.5%. Demand for high-immunogenicity vaccines is expected to rise continuously due to global aging and the increasing number of immunocompromised individuals and those with chronic illnesses. SKYCellflu, SK bioscience's existing cell-based influenza vaccine, has already been recognized for its innovation. It became the world's first cell-based flu vaccine to receive prequalification (PQ) from the WHO and is currently approved in 11 countries, with supply through international procurement programs by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience, said, "We believe the combination of our proven SKYCellflu platform and our experience in adjuvanted vaccine development positions us well for success. We aim to establish a differentiated presence in the high-immunogenicity vaccine market while building a flexible platform for future infectious disease preparedness."
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A year's worth of mascara? Fans of Korean beauty stock up as tariffs loom
When Esther Lee, a 32-year-old marketing agency owner from Los Angeles, heard that U.S. tariffs would soon hit South Korea, she and her husband jumped online to buy a year's worth of Korean eyeliners and sunscreens. It was triple their usual haul and cost hundreds of dollars. The couple is among swarms of K-beauty consumers in the United States who have stocked up to brace for a potential price hike on their favourite cosmetic and skincare products. Influencers have shared their bulk shopping hauls on social media. "The future is uncertain, but there is one thing I am certain about," Taylor Bosman Teague said to her 500,000 TikTok followers in May while unboxing bottles of toner and moisturisers. "I am not willing to lose certain Korean skincare products." The panic buying began in April, when President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs on South Korea's exports to the United States, but then suspended them to allow for negotiations. In early July, he threatened to impose a 25% tariff on almost all South Korean and Japanese goods if an agreement could not be made before Aug. 1. This has caused ripples in the K-beauty industry, which has been booming, along with the rise of K-pop and K-dramas more broadly, and had record-high exports in the first half of the year. South Korean cosmetic exports reached a record $5.5 billion in the first half of this year, nearly 15% higher than the first half of 2024, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Amorepacific , Korea's largest beauty company, reported a 40% increase in overseas sales in the past year. Some people in the United States "are acting ahead of the tariffs" and purchasing more imported goods, said professor Rob Handfield, who studies supply chain management at North Carolina State University. U.S. trade partners have been "stonewalled" by Washington in their attempts to reach a trade deal, Handfield said. He added that, for South Korea and Japan, it doesn't seem like there is "any possibility of working something out" by the Aug. 1 deadline. Liah Yoo, a 36-year-old content creator from New York and founder of KraveBeauty, a U.S.-based K-beauty brand, said in an email that the tariffs would have a "massive impact" on the beauty industry at large. Her brand's products are formulated in South Korea. A free-trade agreement between the two countries has long kept cosmetics duty free, and one of the biggest pluses of Korean products is affordability, she said. Korean brands that have relied solely on price to stay competitive will be hit the hardest, Yoo said. She said she would "not make reactive pricing decisions" and would monitor how things develop over the next six months. A silver lining, Yoo said, is that tariffs may be "exactly what the industry needs" to place a focus on value instead of just cheaper prices. Fans of K-beauty say the products offer good value for money, and are often lighter and less abrasive than those in the United States. Their stylish packaging and popularity with Korean celebrities also add to their appeal. Lee, the marketing agency owner, said over Zoom that she was wearing eyeliner from Clio, brow mascara from Espoir and mascara from Etude House, all Korean brands. Korean products comprise around 80% of her makeup and skin-care routine. "Korean eye products don't smudge as much on my hooded lids as do American ones," she said. Lee, who is Korean American, said if the price of Korean beauty products rose because of the tariffs, she would buy in bulk every time she visits South Korea or ask her friends to purchase them for her when they travel there. After Trump sent a letter to South Korea about the potential tariffs a few weeks ago, Seoul sent its top negotiator, Yeo Han-koo, to Washington to meet with Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative. Yeo came back largely empty handed. "We are doing our best to bring about a result that is mutually beneficial to both sides, but we have been unable to establish what each side exactly wanted from the other side," President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea said about trade talks this month. Some consumers said they would stay loyal to their favourite Korean brands even if they became more expensive. Sophie He, a 27-year-old from San Jose, California, who is studying Korean at Yonsei University in Seoul over the summer, said all of her makeup was from Korean brands, and that she would buy several months' worth of moisturisers and serums for herself and her friends before going home. She became interested in K-beauty in middle school, after influencers popped up on her social media feeds. She found that Korean products have lighter formulas and pigmentation than those in the U.S. and better match her complexion, she said. At a branch of Olive Young, a major cosmetics chain, He pointed to a dozen products, rattling off their functions and ingredients by heart. "K-beauty is fun, trendy and constantly evolving," she said. When her stash runs out, she won't hesitate to pay higher prices for more. "For me, it's worth it."
Mint
13-07-2025
- Mint
Michelin star restaurant in legal trouble for serving ‘ant' garnished food — viral dish violated food safety laws
Legal trouble knocked doors of a two-star Michelin restaurant located in South Korea's capital — Seoul, for serving ant garnished food. This marks an instance when fine dining comes in conflict with the laws of the country. The high-end fine dining restaurant had been serving ants in its select dishes for the past four years but came under fire recently. According to government guidelines, a total of ten insect species, excluding ants, are permitted for use in food preparation. The list includes, grasshoppers, mealworms and silkworm pupae, among others, The Korea Times reported. In this case, the Michelin star restaurant owner and the corporate entity have been referred to prosecutors, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety revealed on July 10. Since ants are not on the list, their use entails violation of law under current food safety regulations. Thus, South Korea's Food Sanitation Act prohibits sale of food or additives that do not meet established standards. Violators can face a penalty of up to ₹ 31.1 lakh (50 million won) or imprisonment of up to five years. Located in Gangnam District, the high-end fine dining restaurant gained traction after its signature offerings became viral on social media. Featuring a creative and globally inspired interpretations of Korean cuisine, the sherbet dish topped with edible ants became the most popular delicacy. The restaurant used ants sourced from the US and Thailand and garnished its dishes with three to five ants per plate. Between April 2021 and January 2025, the restaurant allegedly sold platters containing three to five ants in every serving. The dish generated sales worth around ₹ 74.7 lakh (120 million won), corresponding to estimated 12,000 servings during this period.
Mint
13-07-2025
- Mint
Michelin star restaurant in legal trouble for serving ‘ant' garnished food — viral dishes violated food safety laws
Legal trouble knocked doors of a two-star Michelin restaurant located in South Korea's capital — Seoul, for serving ant garnished food. This marks an instance when fine dining comes in conflict with the laws of the country. The high-end fine dining restaurant had been serving ants in its select dishes for the past four years but came under fire recently. According to government guidelines, a total of ten insect species, excluding ants, are permitted for use in food preparation. The list includes, grasshoppers, mealworms and silkworm pupae, among others, The Korea Times reported. In this case, the Michelin star restaurant owner and the corporate entity have been referred to prosecutors, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety revealed on July 10. Since ants are not on the list, their use entails violation of law under current food safety regulations. Thus, South Korea's Food Sanitation Act prohibits sale of food or additives that do not meet established standards. Violators can face a penalty of up to ₹ 31.1 lakh (50 million won) or imprisonment of up to five years. Located in Gangnam District, the high-end fine dining restaurant gained traction after its signature offerings became viral on social media. Featuring a creative and globally inspired interpretations of Korean cuisine, the sherbet dish topped with edible ants became the most popular delicacy. The restaurant used ants sourced from the US and Thailand and garnished its dishes with three to five ants per plate. Between April 2021 and January 2025, the restaurant allegedly sold platters containing three to five ants in every serving. The dish generated sales worth around ₹ 74.7 lakh (120 million won), corresponding to estimated 12,000 servings during this period. However, the restaurant's owner claimed that they were unaware ants were a restricted ingredient and had even introduced the ant-based dish on TV without concealment.
