Inni Appears 'Fish Milk' in Cattle Shortage..."Economic effect" vs. "It smells fishy"

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Amid the emergence of so-called "fish milk" using fish in Indonesia, mixed reactions are coming out.

On the 25th (local time), foreign media such as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Indonesia's non-profit organization "Verican Protein Initiative" has been making milk using fish since last year in the aftermath of a cow shortage.

In the Indonesian coastal town of Indramayu, fishermen deliver fish captured twice a day to factories to separate fish bones and separate only fish flesh through hydrolysis chemical processes. It is a method of drying it and making it into a protein-rich white powder.

After that, the white powder is moved to a separate facility, mixed with flavors such as chocolate or strawberries to taste, and water is added to it to complete the so-called "fish milk."

The Indonesian government has a positive outlook on fish milk in that it can utilize abundant fisheries resources. Experts also predicted that with the support of the state, fish milk could be produced 500,000 tons per year and developed into a business worth $4.5 billion (about 6.2842 trillion won).

However, there are concerns that it is an ultra-processed food mixed with sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Some say it is better to import milk from other countries, such as Australia, and the unique fishy smell of fish that remains even after chemical treatment is also considered a disadvantage, according to foreign media.

Reporter Park Sun-young of Digital News Team