Businesses that falsely advertised regular albumin food products as health supplements or exaggerated their efficacy and effects have been caught once again.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that during its third round of inspections on false advertising of albumin products, it caught 5 businesses, requested the competent local governments to take administrative measures, and filed complaints with investigative authorities.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that the products sold by these businesses through false advertising amounted to approximately 19,000 items, with sales reaching 520 million won.

Albumin food products are general foods made from egg whites.

However, the caught businesses used expressions such as "for those worried about their health or easily fatigued" and "menopause nutritional supplement," advertising the albumin foods in a way that misled and confused consumers into thinking they were health supplements, according to the ministry.

They also promoted the albumin foods as if they had effects in improving certain physical symptoms by using phrases like "swelling of the body" and "frequent swelling of the face."

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety emphasized, "Albumin food products are completely different from serum albumin injections, which are prescription drugs requiring a doctor's prescription."

Previously, in March, the Korean Medical Association also warned consumers, stating, "There is no clinically proven evidence that oral albumin produces effects such as improving fatigue or boosting immunity."

(Photo courtesy of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Yonhap News)