MFDS Identifies 264 Cases of Online False Advertising Including 'Misleading as Health Supplements'

April 28 - May 3 Joint Inspection with Local Governments and Online
'Misleading as Health Functional Foods' Unfair Advertisements Account for 84.1%, the Highest

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 24th that it has identified 264 cases of online false advertising violating the 'Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods,' including advertisements that mislead consumers into confusing general foods with health functional foods. For the 264 cases detected during the inspection, access was blocked through the Korea Communications Standards Commission, and administrative actions were requested from the relevant authorities.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted a joint online inspection with local governments from the 28th of last month to the 3rd of this month to prevent false advertising and illegal activities related to foods. The inspection focused on false advertising regarding disease prevention and treatment efficacy, and confusion or misunderstanding about health functional foods.

This inspection targeted 577 online posts selling products that received significant media coverage or had high consumer interest. These included posts advertising benefits such as 'immune function, gut health, bowel activity, skin health, and fatigue (blood circulation) improvement.'

Among the 264 cases detected, advertisements that caused confusion or misunderstanding by presenting general foods as health functional foods accounted for 222 cases, making up 84.1% of the total. These advertisements claimed that general foods had effects such as improving immunity, gut health, and fatigue, leading consumers to perceive them as health functional foods.

Following these were ▲16 cases (6.1%) of advertisements claiming efficacy or effects in disease prevention or treatment ▲10 cases (3.8%) of advertisements misleading consumers into confusing general foods with pharmaceuticals ▲9 cases (3.4%) of deceptive advertisements ▲4 cases (1.5%) of advertisements for health functional foods that differed from content previously reviewed through voluntary screening ▲3 cases (1.1%) of false or exaggerated advertisements.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "Since many cases of false advertising causing confusion between general foods and health functional foods were found in this inspection, consumers should verify the health functional food certification mark and functional content when purchasing health functional foods."