Health Supplement Ads Claiming "Increased Cartilage Cells" Face Regulatory Action; KCSC Issues 'Caution'

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) decided on July 6 to issue a legal sanction of "Caution" against two home shopping broadcasts that exaggerated the efficacy of health functional foods based on animal test results or implied they could prevent or treat diseases.

The KCSC held a plenary session on this day and announced the decision regarding the sales broadcasts for "Useul Joint 100 Premium" on Shinsegae Shopping and "Joint Cartilage HL Joint 100" on CJ OnStyle.

The broadcasts in question were found to have repeatedly emphasized results such as increases in cartilage cell count or cartilage thickness observed in animal experiments, presenting them as if the same effects would occur in humans. They also used expressions that could lead viewers to believe the products are effective in preventing or treating diseases such as degenerative arthritis.

The KCSC stated, "It is a violation of review regulations to exaggerate and cite experimental results that may not directly correlate with human efficacy, or to express that health functional foods have efficacy in preventing or treating diseases." The commission added, "We plan to continue applying strict standards to sales broadcasts of health functional foods, which are directly related to consumer health."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.