Chuseok Gift 'Vita 500' Not Allowed... 5-Day Business Suspension Imposed

Kwangdong Pharmaceutical Suspended from Business for 5 Days from 21st to 25th
Products Including Hovenia Dulcis Tea and Corn Silk Tea Affected

Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, which was caught displaying and advertising unapproved claims on its red ginseng beverage, has been suspended from business from the 21st to the 25th ahead of Chuseok. Although the suspension lasts only five days, this period is when health-related gift sets sell the most throughout the year, so a significant impact on sales is expected.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 20th, the MFDS notified the local government of Seocho-gu, Seoul, which has jurisdiction, in June that Kwangdong Pharmaceutical's red ginseng beverage contained unapproved functional claims in its advertising.

The product in question is Kwangdong Pharmaceutical's red ginseng beverage called 'Kwangdong Fermented Red Ginseng Gold.' This product is classified as a food, and when using ingredients from health functional foods, it can be labeled as a 'functional labeling food' that partially displays its functionality on the food.

In such cases, prior voluntary review must be obtained. However, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety pointed out that the 'Graph of Rg3 content changes in fermented red ginseng concentrate' displayed on the product packaging did not undergo prior review.

An MFDS official explained, "Other parts of the labeling were reviewed, but the graph was not, which was identified as a violation at the end of June," adding, "The local government's administrative action followed recently."

Accordingly, Seocho-gu decided to prohibit the distribution and sale of all products registered under Kwangdong Pharmaceutical as a 'distribution specialized seller' during the specified period.

This includes not only 'Kwangdong Fermented Red Ginseng Gold' but also some Vita 500 products such as the Vita 500 can product 'Vita 500F,' 'Vita 500 Gwangdorbang,' 'Vita 500 Sparkling,' as well as 'Hutgaecha' and 'Corn Silk Tea.'

However, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical explained that products already delivered to retailers can still be sold.

A Kwangdong Pharmaceutical representative said, "The business suspension applies to foods sold under registration as distribution specialized sellers," adding, "Products already delivered can be sold by the retailers without any issues."