Does kimchi really need to be refrigerated?

Kimchi was developed in Korea as a way of preserving vegetables before there was such a thing as refrigeration. They do not refrigerate kimchi in Korea.

Yes

I often but Kimchi. I do not refrigerate it for a fee days. Keeping it at room temperature allows further fermentation.

Once I've opened the jar, then I put it in the fridge. An airtight unopened container of Kimich should be just fine on be shelf.

Love kimchi.

if the kimchi is fermented then probably not. Kimchi was made long before refrigeration ever was invented. Its fermented cabbage and other ingredients.., think Asian sauerkraut. If it was made with an natural fermentation, it doesn't need refrigeration but keeping it cool will slow down further souring. Are the jars sealed or just closed? THAT can make a difference.

You can preserve nearly anything if it's handled properly and jarred right, which usually means boiling the jar, sealing it and let it cool to create a miniature vacuum.

Answer: If the FDA says it's OK, it probably is. The FDA doesn't grade on taste, though, so you might run into wilted/stale kimchee every now and then.

Remember there are other products that sit on shelves that are fine, like salsa, for example.

Depends on the exact ingredients. Most kimchi contains shrimp and fish sauce, which can putrefy if not chilled. In theory, any bacteria should be killed off during the manufacturing process, and the jar should be airtight to prevent contamination, but you should still be careful about anything that's been stored contrary to the manufacturers explicit instructions.

If the food is sold sealed, then refrigerate after opening.