Korea Gives Green Light To Flakes

A green light was given today by the Korean government for the approval of the U.S. Potato Board's application to increase sulfite tolerance levels for dehydrated potatoes.

The lifting of this ban comes at the date of notificaton. This translates into increased opportunities for the dehy industry in new sectors and net sales for U.S. potato products as whole.

The Korean sulfite tolerance level for dehy was increased from 30-to-500 ppm. Included in the application was the addition of the term "flake" to the definition of dehy. This had been missing.

Flakes are an important ingredient in several food manufacturing applications in the Korean market. The addition eliminates confusion at ports of entry.

The USPB has been working hard to eliminate market access barriers to increase sales opportunities for U.S. potatoes and potato products.

The American Potato Trade Alliance (a consortium of potato organization and foodservice/retail marketing officials) has been working hand-in-hand with the USPB developing the petition that yielded the important market expansion.

USPB Manager TK Kuwahara,  International-Marketing--dehy, said the Board's partnership with the APTA has proven successful not only on removing of this barrier but on several others.

The Board says that eliminating market access barriers will increase sales opportunities for U.S. potatoes and potato products. It gives U.S. potatoes additional opportunities to enter international markets.