GS Retail faces police probe for selling butterbeer without butter

• Published date: 09 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has filed a complaint with the police against GS Retail on charges of violating the country's food labeling laws, according to the ministry Thursday.

"Beurre Biere," better known as butterbeer here, has been an instant hit at GS25 stores after its launch last September. GS25 is a convenience store brand operated by GS Retail.

The MFDS argued that if a product wants to use "beurre" in its name, which means butter in French, it has to use butter in its manufacturing or processing system.

Brewguru, the manufacturer of Beurre Biere, is also suspended from producing the alcoholic beverage for a month from March 3.

"We borrowed the commonly used term (butter) to give a better understanding for consumers (about our product). Giving a nickname with a concept and characteristic to a product can easily be found in the retail business. It is not true at all that we used the term butter beer to deceive consumers deliberately," a GS Retail...