National Health Insurance Asahi Central Hospital, Okayama University, Wakayama Medical University, and National Psychiatric and Neurological Medical Center have found that some advertisements for functional foods contain content that misleads consumers into thinking that they are superior, contrary to the results of clinical trials. , according to a survey conducted by research groups such as Kyoto University.
According to Kyoto University, the research group randomly selected 5 of the 726 clinical trials registered by five major domestic drug development contract agencies, and the test results were published in press releases and product advertisements for functional food sales. We investigated how it is reflected in
Of the 100 clinical trial results, 76 were food-related and 32 were published as papers. We found 3 press releases and 8 product advertisements related to this, but there were discrepancies between the results and conclusions, and in 32 out of 26 papers and 11 out of 8 press releases and advertisements. .
In Japan, in addition to the Specified Health Food System, in which the government certifies foods that have health-preserving functions, in 2015, the Foods with Function Claims System was introduced, which allows the functionality of foods to be indicated by simply applying without receiving national certification. It started.
The research group pointed out that despite the fact that there are many factors that can mislead consumers into believing that the product is superior, a major problem is that this is being conveyed to the media and consumers as is, and that the Consumer Affairs Agency needs to review its regulations. It is proposed that there is.
