New Taipei City catches the most illegal advertisements claiming to be weight loss foods

Illegal food, drug, and cosmetic advertisements are becoming increasingly rampant. Last year, the New Taipei City Government’s Health Bureau investigated and dealt with a total of 442 illegal advertisements, resulting in fines of more than NT$10 million. Among the illegal food advertisements, the most common one claimed to be for "weight loss," followed by "male sexual enhancement." The Department of Health pointed out that among the cases that were fined, the majority were cosmetics violations (244 cases), followed by food advertising (186 cases) and drug advertising (12 cases); the largest number of advertisements were from the Internet and shopping TV channels, with each accounting for approximately 40%, which is worthy of attention.

Among food advertisements, the most common claim is to "lose weight and slim down". This is because it involves exaggeration, is easy to cause misunderstanding, and is likely to attract the attention of health authorities.

Lin Guanzhen, chief of the Food and Drug Administration Division of the New Taipei City Health Bureau, pointed out that in order to maintain the safety of drug and cosmetic use, cable TV, radio stations, print newspapers and magazines, the Internet and other media advertisements are comprehensively monitored every year. It is worth noting that among the illegal food advertisements, the largest number was 46 advertisements for weight loss, followed by 31 advertisements for male sexual enhancement and cardiovascular diseases, and 28 advertisements for enhancing immunity.

In addition, among the illegal cosmetics advertisements, it is common to publish them without applying for advertising approval or not publishing them in full accordance with the advertising approval form. There are also sellers who do not understand that the products are cosmetics and mistakenly violate the Cosmetics Hygiene Management Regulations. Currently, violations of Article 24 of the Cosmetics Hygiene Management Regulations may be subject to a fine of no more than NT$50,000 in accordance with Article 30 of the same regulations.

As for illegal drug advertisements, according to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, non-drug dealers who publish drug advertisements may be fined not less than NT$200,000 and not more than NT$5 million in accordance with Article 91 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act as a violation of Article 65 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act; in addition, those who sell drugs without the qualifications of a drug dealer may be fined not less than NT$30,000 and not more than NT$150,000 in accordance with Article 92 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act as a violation of Article 27 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

【Criteria for determining medical efficacy involving exaggeration, misunderstanding, or medical efficacy】

1. Claims to prevent, ameliorate, alleviate, diagnose or treat diseases or specific physiological conditions:

Example: Treatment of myopia. Restore vision. Prevent constipation. Diuretic. Improve allergic constitution. Aphrodisiac. Strong sperm. Relieves allergic skin diseases. Treat insomnia. Prevent anemia. Lowers blood pressure. Improve blood turbidity. Cleanse blood. Adjust endocrine. Prevent early menopause.

2. Claims to reduce or alleviate disease-related body components:

Example: Detoxify the liver. Reduce liver fat.

3. Claims that the product is effective for diseases, disease syndromes or symptoms:

Example: Eliminate stagnation. Reduce liver fire. Improves throat inflammation. Eliminate phlegm and relieve asthma. Reduce swelling and relieve pain. Eliminate heart arrhythmias. Detoxification.

4. Those involving the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines:

Example: Nourishes the kidneys. Warming the kidney (transforming qi). Nourishes the kidneys. Strengthen the kidneys. Strengthen the spleen. Nourishes the spleen. Benefits the spleen. Warming the spleen. Soothes the stomach. Nourish the stomach. Nourishes the stomach. Good for the stomach. Warming the stomach (Jianzhong). Upset stomach. Nourish the heart. Clear heart fire. Mend the heart. Peace of mind. Diarrhea. Calm your mind. Strong heart. Clears the lungs. Nourishes the lungs. Moisturizes the lungs. Damage to the lungs. Warming the lungs (resolving phlegm). Nourish the lungs. Drain the lungs. Soothe the liver. Nourish the liver. Drain the liver. Calming the liver (extinguishing wind). Astringent intestines. Lubricates the intestines. Promote blood circulation. Dissolve blood stasis.

5. Quoting or extracting publications, books or using the name of others and mentioning the medical efficacy:

Example: "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that Cordyceps sinensis can stop bleeding and reduce phlegm. "Compendium of Materia Medica" records: Black beans can relieve pain. Disperse internal cold accumulated in the five internal organs.