In line with the recent trend of healthy gastronomy, balsamic vinegar is gaining popularity, causing..

사진 확대 [With consumers]

In line with the recent trend of healthy gastronomy, balsamic vinegar is gaining popularity, causing confusion among consumers by advertising and selling the aging years that are not indicated on the label of the product of origin in some imported products.

Critics point out that information that is not legally available is being made into a marketing phrase in the domestic distribution process and that related labeling standards need to be maintained.

According to a survey of major distribution networks such as Hyundai Department Store, Lotte Department Store, GS SHOP, CJ OnStyle, Hyundai Home Shopping, Lotte Home Shopping, 11th Street, Coupang, and SSG Dotcom along with consumers of the corporation, many cases have been confirmed that aging years, which are not on the product bottle label, have been used on online product pages, offline price tags, and promotional images.

The survey was conducted for four weeks from December 22, 2025 to January 22, 2026. The organization explained that it monitored the product label and sales information (product description, image, price tag, display information).

The organization specifically pointed to commercial balsamic vinegar, which is IGP (Geographic Marking Protection) certified in the Italian region of Modena, as the core of the problem. The product is a commercial balsamic that is matured by mixing grape juice and wine vinegar, and Italian local laws and IGP regulations do not allow labeling of the product with aging years in the form of numbers such as ‘3 years’ and ’12 years’. Therefore, normal imports do not show ripening years on the label.

However, as phrases such as “20-year aging” that are not on the label are used as quality assurance information at the domestic distribution stage, consumers are at high risk of mistaking them for official certification information, the organization pointed out.

The organization said, “The structure itself in which information that cannot be displayed by the country of origin is made into advertising and sales phrases in the domestic distribution stage and spreads increases consumer confusion.”

Major brands widely sold in Korea, including Leonardo, Giuseppe Giusti, Mengazoli, Mussini, De Cecco, and La Vecchia, were among the brands identified.

In addition, the organization was concerned that consumers are likely to mistake the two products as “long-term aging balsamic” of the same standard if the ageing expression is mixed with the institutional differences between IGP products and DOP (origin name protection) products. DOP products are traditional products that are aged for a long time based on grape concentrate, and there is a difference in that long-term aging is systematically distinguished.

In terms of the law, the organization said that it is necessary to review whether it may be false, exaggerated, or consumer deception under the “Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising” and the “Act on Labeling and Advertising of Food, etc.”

In particular, he argued, “The act of labeling and selling information that cannot be displayed by the country of origin as true can be closely linked to the types of false, exaggerated labeling, and advertising in Article 3 of the Marking and Advertising Act.”

As an improvement plan, the organization proposed ▲ establishing a clear marking guide for expressions related to aging (maturity training, maturation period) ▲ establishing standards for online and offline distribution platforms and strengthening seller guidance ▲ establishing a regular monitoring system and reviewing effective measures in case of repeated violations.