[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating the Namyang Dairy Products case, which sparked controversy after the company announced that the probiotic drink Bulgari has an effect in suppressing COVID-19.
According to the police on the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has assigned the Namyang Dairy Products case to its Financial Crime Investigation Unit.
Earlier, on the 13th, Namyang Dairy Products announced at a symposium that their Bulgari fermented milk product has antiviral effects against COVID-19, despite not having undergone animal or clinical trials. This led to a complaint filed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) against the company for violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act. The MFDS reported Namyang Dairy Products to the Sejong Police Station, but the police transferred the case to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, where the company's headquarters are located, for investigation.
The MFDS stated that the research involved antiviral cell experiments against COVID-19 on only one of the seven Bulgari products, but the company specified the product name and presented at the symposium for promotional purposes rather than purely academic reasons, giving the impression that the entire Bulgari product line had the effect.
Following the controversy over Bulgari's COVID-19 suppression effect, Namyang Dairy Products apologized, stating that it "caused misunderstanding among consumers."
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