The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has uncovered numerous cases of misleading online advertisements promoting normal foods as height growth supplements.
On the 20th, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that it had found 166 instances of illegal online advertisements violating the law on labeling and advertising of food and the Pharmacies Act. These illegal advertisements, discovered on various platforms including online sales sites, social media, cafes, blogs, and second-hand trading platforms, falsely promoted normal foods with phrases suggesting height growth, causing confusion among consumers into thinking they are health functional foods. More specifically, 119 cases involved misleading promotional phrases like 'height growth' and 'growing tall', while 8 other instances falsely advertised health functional foods claiming unapproved functionalities. Five cases unjustly described products in a way that suggested they could prevent or treat diseases such as 'osteoporosis'. Additionally, four cases led consumers to mistakenly think that food products were medications, and another two involved deceptive claims stating, 'Recommended by pharmacists.'
