Korea’s hot and humid summer weather makes keeping food fresh a challenge during the summer, and beverage brands are lining the shelves with specially packaged products to put health-conscious consumers at ease.

Focusing on popular natural beverages like fruit juices and dairy, the packages are specially designed to keep heat and moisture out even when the products are kept at room temperature.

Innovations in packaging have come to the fore especially this year as all-natural drinks made without preservatives have risen in popularity with the boom health-conscious consumption.

According to the study “Aseptic Packaging” by Freedonia Group released in April, food and beverages are some of the major drivers of the aseptic packaging market, which has previously been primarily focused on the pharmaceutical industry.

Fruit juice brand Dole released the 100% Ice Juice Bar, which comes in a sanitary package that keeps the juice fresh at room temperature by blocking out light and air. The ice juice bar, which comes in pineapple and mango flavors, can be consumed as juice or frozen into a popsicle.

Dole’s Ice Juice Bar debuted the triangular Tetra Classic Slim package from Tetra Pak in the Korean market. Tetra Pak is a global leader in food processing and packaging.

Lotte Chilsung Beverage, which runs the Del Monte brand in Korea, also came out with a similar product called the Del Monte Farmer’s Juice Bar, also using safe packaging. The Del Monte Farmer’s Juice Bar is available in orange and grapefruit flavors.

Dairy is also an important market for aseptic packaging because of the category’s short shelf life. Industry leader Maeil Dairy Industry Co. has produced two products in aseptic packaging for the summer.

The first comes from the company’s premium organic milk line Sangha Farm. For the first time, the brand expanded its use for aseptic packaging to its organic line, allowing consumers to take milk on the go without worrying about refrigeration. The aseptic package is available for the line’s white, cocoa, strawberry and banana flavors.

Maeil also brought in aseptic Tetra Pak packaging for its lactose-free line, extending the expiration date to 10 weeks after production.

Other beverage categories are also exploring germ-free packaging. Some examples are the “Vegemil” soy milk from Dr. Chung’s Food Co. and Zico coconut water from Coca-Cola.

“Many consumers are concerned about food spoiling in the heat,” an industry insider said. “The beverage market will continue to produce products with aseptic packaging that allows them to last longer and remain sanitary.”

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)