Wegopro, Mounjung? Warning over supplements resembling medicines

KPA calls for “stronger safeguards against products evoking obesity and diabetes treatments… Need to strengthen measures to prevent confusion”

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association (President Young-hee Kwon) has urged consumers to exercise caution regarding health functional foods and general food products that may be confused with prescription medicines.

The KPA emphasized, “As the distribution of general foods that are classified as other processed goods with names and appearances similar to pharmaceuticals increases in the market, there is a growing risk of treatment delays, misuse, and other health harms. This is not merely a matter of product choice but an issue directly linked to public health and safety, requiring special caution.”

The association noted that cases have recently been identified in which health functional foods and general foods are being sold with names and appearances similar to prescription drugs.

In particular, products using names reminiscent of diabetes or obesity treatments are being distributed, raising concerns that consumers may mistake them for medicines.

Some products reportedly mimic pharmaceutical packaging colors and design layouts, further increasing the risk of confusion.

The KPA mentioned that it had previously raised the issue during a National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee audit last year.

Rep. Bo-yoon Choi pointed out that distinctions among pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, and health functional foods are not clearly conveyed to consumers. She cited examples such as Ursa–Ursaji, Jeil Cool Pap–Jeil Pap Cool, and Madecassol–Madecassol Care, where similar names and packaging may blur distinctions.

At the time, Rep. Choi stated, “Even if the legal distinction is clear, if identical display and similar packaging persist, consumers inevitably perceive them as the same drug,” pointing out the resulting risks of delayed treatment and side effects.

Eun-gyo Kim, Director of Health Functional Foods at the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, said, “Pharmaceuticals are therapeutic products whose safety and efficacy are verified through clinical trials and regulatory approval by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, whereas health functional foods and general foods are supplementary products that cannot replace medicines. Selling products with similar names or that exploit the recognition and social interest in treatments for specific diseases poses a high risk of misleading consumers.

Meanwhile, the KPA urged consumers to always verify the distinction between pharmaceuticals, health functional foods, and general foods, along with their labeling information, when purchasing products. It also stated that it will continue monitoring similar cases and actively pursue policy improvements to protect public health.

Furthermore, it stressed the need for: ▲ Establishing prior review and restriction criteria for products using names closely resembling medicines ▲ Creating new regulatory standards for packaging and designs that evoke pharmaceuticals ▲ Strengthening mandatory distinction labels and warning statements to prevent confusion ▲ Enhancing inspection and management of advertising and online promotional practices that imply disease treatment effects.