Bought for Weight Loss at Daiso... Sales Halted After Liver Damage Cases Shock Consumers

Two Cases of Adverse Events Reported Last Month

All units of Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s health functional food ‘Garcinia’ (Garcinia Cambogia extract), distributed through retailers such as Daiso, have been recalled after cases of abnormal liver function were reported.

Recalled Daewoong Pharmaceutical health functional food 'Garcinia' (Garcinia Cambogia extract). Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

On September 23, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that two cases of liver function-related adverse events had occurred with Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s Garcinia health functional food. Following a review by the Health Functional Food Deliberation Committee, the product was recalled.

Additionally, the Ministry plans to add a warning to the ‘Precautions for Consumption’ section of Garcinia Cambogia extract, stating that “in rare cases, it may cause liver damage, and alcohol consumption should be avoided during the intake period.”

The recalled products are 54g packages with an expiration date labeled as ‘2027. 4. 17’ and ‘2027. 4. 18’. The manufacturer is Natural Way Co., Ltd. (Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province), and the specialized distributor is Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Gangnam-gu, Seoul). These products were found to have been distributed through Daiso and similar retailers.

According to the standards and specifications for health functional foods, Garcinia Cambogia extract is a functional ingredient that helps reduce body fat by inhibiting the conversion of carbohydrates into fat.

According to adverse event reports filed on August 25 and 27, two different individuals who consumed the product developed similar symptoms of hepatitis. As a result, on August 28, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommended a temporary suspension of sales to the business operator. Both individuals were hospitalized and discharged after 7 to 8 days as their symptoms improved.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, “After collecting and testing the product and its ingredients, no non-compliant items were found in terms of standards and specifications. However, the Health Functional Food Deliberation Committee concluded that the likelihood of a causal relationship between the adverse events and the product was very high, raising concerns for consumer safety. Therefore, as of September 23, the product is being recalled to ensure consumer safety.” The Ministry also added, “While the involvement of alcohol consumption cannot be ruled out, the causal relationship with the product itself was assessed at the highest level, Grade 5, indicating a very high likelihood that the product was the direct cause.”

The Ministry recommends that consumers stop taking the product and return it to the place of purchase, emphasizing, “Excessive intake or simultaneous consumption of body fat-reducing functional foods may increase the risk of adverse events, so it is essential to follow the indicated dosage, method of consumption, and precautions listed on the product.”