South Korea Flags 95 Cosmetics Ads Mimicking Food, Posing Ingestion Risk

South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has uncovered 95 instances of misleading advertisements for cosmetics that mimic food items. These products were designed to look like donuts, macarons, and jellies, creating a potential risk of accidental consumption by consumers.

The MFDS, in collaboration with a joint public-private consultative body on cosmetic advertising, conducted the inspection. The aim was to identify and address advertisements that could deceive consumers into believing these cosmetic products were edible.

Under the Cosmetics Act, it is prohibited to imitate the form, scent, color, size, container, or packaging of food in a way that might lead to ingestion. The MFDS is taking measures to ensure that consumers can distinguish between food and cosmetic products, thereby preventing any potential health hazards.

The crackdown highlights the ministry's commitment to consumer safety and its efforts to maintain transparency in the cosmetics market. The identified advertisements will be subject to regulatory action to prevent further misleading claims.