‘Effective in Preventing COVID-19’ Exaggerated Advertisement... Prosecution Indicts Current and Former Namyang Dairy Products Executives

Prosecutors: "Despite knowing the difficulty in confirming COVID-19 reduction effects, exaggerated advertising was made"

Former and current executives of Namyang Dairy Products have been brought to trial for advertising effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.

Hong Won-sik, chairman of Namyang Dairy Products, is shedding tears during a public apology press conference related to the 'Bulgaris incident' held on May 4, 2021, at Namyang Dairy Products headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Last month, Namyang Dairy Products announced at a symposium on 'Development of antiviral foods in the COVID-19 era' that the Bulgaris product was confirmed to reduce COVID-19 by 77.8%. However, the research results were revealed to have exaggerated the findings from animal 'cell-level' experiments, causing controversy. In response, Hong Won-sik, chairman of Namyang Dairy Products, expressed his intention to resign during the public apology press conference that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Son Jeong-hyun) indicted four former and current executives of Namyang Dairy Products and the corporation itself without detention on the charges of violating the Food Labeling and Advertising Act on the 29th.

They are accused of announcing at a symposium around April 2021 that the Bulgari fermented milk product produced by Namyang Dairy Products has antiviral effects against COVID-19.

According to the prosecution's investigation, although the experiments were merely simple cell-level tests without clinical trials, and it was difficult to conclusively state that their specific dairy product had antiviral and coronavirus reduction effects, they presented the research results as if the product was effective at a symposium disguised as an academic event attended by numerous reporters, distributing related materials which led to media coverage.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, through its investigation, concluded that Namyang Dairy Products exaggerated the experimental results and filed a complaint with the police based on Article 8 of the Food Labeling and Advertising Act.

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