Overseas Direct Purchase Diet Supplement 'Cissus Powder' Found to Contain 24 Times the Standard Level of Iron Powder

Seoul Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit Launches Investigation... Consumer Caution Advised Due to Lack of Safety Testing
Only Extracts Recognized as Health Functional Foods Domestically... Powder Form Sales Prohibited

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Recently, some Cissus powder products, popular as diet supplements, were found to contain metallic foreign substances such as iron powder at levels up to 24 times higher than the standard, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government to ban the consumption of these products and launch investigations into overseas direct purchase agencies.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit announced on the 23rd that from March to June this year, they purchased six Cissus powder products through online shopping malls via overseas direct purchase and requested component analysis from the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment. The results showed that two products contained large amounts of metallic foreign substances exceeding the standard. Cissus is a perennial vine plant of the grape family that grows in tropical regions including India, and its extract is known to help reduce body fat.

Currently, products sold through online shopping malls via overseas direct purchase are introduced as 100% organic products. However, the tested products revealed not only the presence of heavy metal iron powder but also unclear manufacturing countries. For example, an Indian organic Cissus powder product manufactured by a company called 'Herbal Hills' contained heavy metal foreign substances at 235 mg/kg, which is 23 times the standard (10 mg/kg). Another Cissus powder produced by a manufacturer named 'Ayurveda' contained 242 mg/kg, 24 times the standard.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government pointed out that along with the side effects of Cissus powder products, the recent trend of artificially suppressing appetite for dieting has led to the indiscriminate distribution of harmful foods containing appetite suppressant drugs through overseas direct purchase, requiring consumers to exercise special caution. They warned that some consumers who purchased and consumed these products have reported symptoms such as dry tongue, palpitations, foreign body sensation in the throat, and stinging sensations.

Cissus powder is not recognized as a food ingredient by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea and is therefore banned from sale. Only its extract is recognized as a health functional food for its body fat reduction benefits. Overseas direct purchase foods are imported without undergoing formal import inspections by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, so their safety is not guaranteed, and damage caused by harmful foods can have fatal effects on health.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit emphasized that when purchasing imported foods, consumers must check the Korean labeling including the manufacturer’s name, importer’s name, expiration date, and consumer consultation center, and verify through the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s Food Safety Korea website (www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr) whether the product is non-compliant or hazardous.

They also urged that even when purchasing directly from overseas, if symptoms such as headache, dizziness, vomiting, dry tongue, or palpitations occur after consuming products advertised as having special diet effects, consumers should immediately report to the relevant authorities.

Park Jae-yong, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit, said, "When purchasing food, carefully check the Korean labeling, and whether domestic or overseas direct purchase products, immediately report any side effects to the relevant authorities. We will strengthen continuous monitoring and information gathering, and if any illegal activities are confirmed, we will actively investigate to thoroughly track down and eradicate acts that threaten citizens’ health and disrupt market order."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.