Many sleep health-related products are unfairly advertised, and in particular, melatonin-containing products cannot be expected to improve sleep.
(Picture from Unsplash)
According to a joint survey by the Korea Consumer Agency and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the display and advertising of about 300 sleep-related products on the market, about 80% of them advertise and sell general processed foods as if they are effective for sleep.
Of the 94 domestic products, six products that used tart cherry concentrate as raw materials were indicating and advertising melatonin content that helps sleep, but it was found that there was no effect on improving insomnia.
This is the result of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's consultation on the medical effects and side effects of melatonin-containing foods through a private advertisement verification team of 90 experts.
Melatonin is a sleep-related hormone secreted by the brain, and must be prescribed by a specialist to treat insomnia, and patients with kidney and liver disorders, autoimmune diseases, pregnant women and women should be careful when taking it.
The Korea Consumer Agency found 94 and 200 products on sale at domestic online and overseas direct online shopping malls, respectively, and confirmed that 233 of them were advertised so that they could be mistaken for health functional foods or medicines.
In particular, 18 of the sleep-related products sold in Korea emphasized sleep-inducing effects such as "sleep well" and "good for sleep," allowing them to be mistaken and confused as health functional foods, and three were advertised as "natural sleep treatments."
In addition, 13 cases were found to have the effect of preventing and treating diseases such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, 7 cases were found to have deceived consumers to mistake the efficacy of raw ingredients for finished products, and 1 case was found to have false and exaggerated advertisements.
Of the 200 products sold directly from overseas, 133 were advertised so that they could be mistaken for health functional foods, 36 were confused as medicines, and 22 were advertised as having the effect of preventing and treating diseases, so the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety blocked the site.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon
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