This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz RM Report website at 5:21 a.m. on Jun. 18, 2026.
As low-sugar and wellness trends spread, more consumers are checking nutrition facts such as calories, sugar, and caffeine when choosing foods, but some coffee franchises still do not properly disclose related information on their websites.
Even after the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) recommended improvements four years ago, some companies still do not provide nutrition facts by menu item on their websites, prompting criticism that consumers' right to know and right to choose are being limited.
According to the retail industry on the 18th, the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) in 2022 investigated 29 coffee and beverage franchises operating more than 200 stores nationwide and recommended improvements after pointing out that seven brands, including GAMSUNG COFFEE, Mammoth Express, Selecto Coffee, Juicy, COMPOSE COFFEE, TENPERCENT SPECIALTY COFFEE, and HASAMDONG COFFEE, were not displaying nutrition facts on their websites. At the time, the KCA noted that excessive sugar intake can increase the risk of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, and recommended that coffee and beverage shops provide consumers with accurate information on a product's sugar content.
ChosunBiz checked each brand's website as of Jun. 2026 and found that Mammoth Express, Selecto Coffee, COMPOSE COFFEE, and TENPERCENT SPECIALTY COFFEE disclosed nutrition facts such as calories and caffeine and sugar content, but GAMSUNG COFFEE, Juicy, and HASAMDONG COFFEE were still in a state where it was difficult to check nutrition facts by menu item on their websites.
Recently, in the café industry, high-sugar beverages such as smoothies, frappes, and ades have been steadily released. Some products contain sugar levels that far exceed the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended daily intake of added sugar, raising concerns that if consumers cannot check nutrition information, they may mistake such items for healthier options or consume excessive sugar.
Currently, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's "voluntary nutrition facts labeling guidelines for dining establishments" recommend labeling calories, sugar, protein, sodium, and other items, but they are not mandatory. As a result, the level of disclosure varies by company. While some large franchises such as Starbucks provide detailed nutrition facts through their websites and apps, some brands make it hard for consumers to easily find related information.
In the case of COMPOSE COFFEE, it recently added nutrition facts labeling through a website overhaul. A COMPOSE COFFEE official said, "We had been displaying nutrition facts on the main app. We overhauled the website, including improving the way we provide information on the page that displays nutrition facts by menu item," adding, "We are operating matters related to the disclosure of nutrition facts and labeling methods through communication and consultation with the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA)."
An official at the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) said, "Given the current level of coffee and beverage consumption in Korea, nutrition facts labeling is necessary," adding, "However, since it is not mandatory, the KCA plans to continue investigating and strongly recommending improvements to businesses that fall short."
An official at the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety also said, "Although it is currently operated on a voluntary basis, the ministry is making various efforts to provide nutrition facts databases to self-employed business owners and to prepare related consulting and guidelines."
◇ Overseas mandates nutrition information labeling
Overseas, more proactive systems are in place than in Korea. In the United States, the federal government mandates calorie labeling by menu item for chain restaurants above a certain size, and some local governments, such as New York City and the state of California, operate additional consumer information systems, including sodium warning labels. The system ensures consumers can easily check nutrition information at the ordering stage.
Singapore also grants nutrition grades (A–D) for beverages sold at cafés and restaurants based on sugar and saturated fat content, and requires products high in sugar to display their grade and nutrition information. Some high-sugar beverages are even subject to advertising restrictions to guide consumer choice. The United Kingdom and France have introduced so-called "sugar taxes," which levy taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to encourage manufacturers to reduce sugar and to curb consumption.
Voices within the industry also agree on the need to expand disclosure. A coffee franchise industry official said, "Sugar content can vary depending on the characteristics of the materials and supplies and the product concept, but the industry as a whole needs to work so consumers can choose based on sufficient information, and it is worth considering expanding the scope of nutrition facts disclosure."
Experts, however, note that if nutrition facts labeling is made fully mandatory, the burden on small businesses must also be considered. Kang Jae-heon, a family medicine professor at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, said, "For small cafés or smaller franchises, the expense for nutrition analysis and labeling may not be insignificant," adding, "Rather than making it mandatory across the board, we also need measures that encourage voluntary participation, such as campaigns that highlight corporations that perform nutrition labeling well or incentives."
Kang added, "It is desirable to first apply nutrition facts labeling to franchises above a certain size and then gradually expand it by combining recommendations and encouragement for other businesses."