Preventing COVID-19 with Red Ginseng and Vinegar? Over 1,000 False and Exaggerated Advertising Sites Detected

"Decrease in Cases of False Advertising Compared to Early COVID-19 Period"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Over 1,000 sales sites were caught for false and exaggerated advertising, claiming their products have COVID-19 prevention and treatment effects.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 18th that from January last year until now, it has continuously monitored online food and health functional food sales sites for false and exaggerated advertisements promoting COVID-19 prevention and treatment effects, resulting in 1,031 cases being detected. The Ministry requested site blocking from the Korea Communications Standards Commission and others.

Among the 1,031 detected cases, 711 were food sales sites and 320 were health functional food sales sites. The main violations were disease prevention and treatment claims, accounting for 1,004 cases, overwhelmingly the majority, followed by consumer deception with 24 cases (2.3%), confusion or misunderstanding as health functional foods with 2 cases (0.2%), and one case (0.1%) of violation of voluntary review.

Specifically, cases were confirmed where products such as red ginseng, vinegar, and health functional foods were labeled or advertised as effective for preventing and treating respiratory infections and COVID-19. There were also advertisements deceiving consumers with testimonials claiming that raw materials like black garlic, green tea, and balloon flower root (doraji) are effective in preventing COVID-19. Additionally, some general foods were mistaken or confused as health functional foods due to phrases like immune function enhancement, antioxidant effects, and fatigue recovery.

According to the Ministry, the number of unfair advertising detections sharply increased from February last year, the early stage of COVID-19. However, due to strengthened online monitoring, the numbers have rapidly decreased since May last year. The number of detections in February last year was 457, significantly higher than 65 cases in the previous month, but then dropped to 113 in April, 36 in May, and 20 in March this year.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urged, "As online consumption increases due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, we are strengthening inspections and advise not to be misled by unfair advertisements promoting disease prevention and treatment effects."

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