On the 10th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that it had identified 53 cases of false or exaggerated advertising in violation of the Medical Device Act following an inspection of online sales of paraffin baths, which are medical devices.
A post caught for advertising that could mislead consumers into thinking a general consumer product is certified as a medical device. [Photo by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety]
A paraffin bath is a certified Class 2 medical device used to alleviate pain in hands, feet, and other areas by immersing the painful part in a bath where paraffin is melted to maintain warmth. It is widely used by the elderly and pregnant women. At the same time, general industrial products that resemble the appearance of medical device paraffin baths are being distributed online.
Through this inspection, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety detected 35 cases where general industrial products were advertised like medical devices with claims such as "pain relief" or "blood circulation," 7 cases where medical devices were approved but advertised for purposes different from their intended use, such as "arthritis treatment," and 11 cases of advertisements restricted by law, including testimonials or before-and-after comparisons.
The Ministry urged consumers to verify the "medical device" certification when purchasing paraffin baths for pain relief purposes and to use them after understanding the correct usage methods and precautions. Detailed information on certified medical devices, including performance and effectiveness, can be found on the "Medical Device Information Portal."
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