MFDS Inspects 200 Posts Misleading on Health Functional Foods
Beware of Diet Products with Laxative Ingredients Purchased Overseas
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 6th that it has detected 56 illegal posts involving unfair advertising and sales of general foods as 'sleep inducers' or 'medicines for better sleep' on online shopping malls.
The Ministry stated that as tropical nights continue during the summer, advertisements claiming certain foods have benefits or effects on sleep health have increased, prompting an inspection of 200 online posts that led to these detections.
According to the findings, 28 cases involved advertisements that misled or confused consumers by presenting general foods as health functional foods using phrases like 'sleep supplements' and 'diet,' while 5 cases involved advertisements that misled or confused consumers into thinking foods had disease prevention or treatment effects with phrases such as 'insomnia' and 'good for constipation.'
Additionally, in line with the summer vacation season, the Ministry inspected online advertisements for products related to 'diet' and 'body shape management' and checked for illegal distribution of overseas direct purchase (direct import) foods containing ingredients not allowed as food raw materials. As a result, 20 direct import foods were found to contain 'sennoside,' a pharmaceutical ingredient used to treat constipation.
Sennoside, contained in the plant senna leaves, is used as a pharmaceutical ingredient for treating constipation, but misuse or overuse can cause side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, and impaired bowel function.
The Ministry requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission and others to block the relevant posts for violating the 'Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods,' and requested administrative measures from the relevant local governments.
An official from the Ministry urged, "Since many unfair advertisements misleading consumers to mistake general foods for health functional foods have been detected, please check the 'Health Functional Food Certification Mark' displayed on products when purchasing health functional foods online."
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