11 Companies Caught Running False Ads for 'BPPV Treatment' Using Celebrities and AI

Eleven companies have been caught running deceptive advertisements claiming that ordinary food products can treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and tinnitus by misusing AI-generated images.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) conducted an intensive inspection of online advertisements for related products, determining that consumer interest in BPPV and tinnitus has recently increased.

BPPV is a condition that causes dizziness when calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear's vestibular system become dislodged from their original position.

Tinnitus is a symptom where a person hears sounds inside their ears or head even when there is no external sound source.

One of the companies caught used videos featuring celebrities to mislead consumers by emphasizing terms such as "tinnitus circuit blocker," "tinnitus blocking supplement," and "auditory nerve protection."

Another company used AI-generated images of human tissue to depict the improvement process of BPPV and tinnitus symptoms, advertising as if the food products had therapeutic effects.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that the food products sold by the caught companies totaled approximately 520,000 units, worth 19.2 billion won.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "BPPV and tinnitus are conditions that require medical diagnosis and treatment," adding, "There are no food products or health functional foods that are recognized for their efficacy or effectiveness in preventing or treating these conditions."

(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.