Consumer Agency "19 brain health foods directly purchased from overseas, blocked domestic sales"

Consumers need to be careful because overseas brain health-related foods that are sought to improve memory or prevent dementia contain ingredients that cannot be used in Korea.

The Korea Consumer Agency and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety investigated 19 brain health foods purchased through overseas direct purchases or purchasing agencies, and found ingredients that are prohibited from using specialized pharmaceutical ingredients or domestic foods.

These products were sold on online platforms such as Naver and Ali as nutritional supplements to increase the concentration of test takers or prevent dementia.

Six of the 19 surveyed were identified as "galanthamine" and "vinfocetin," which are brain function treatments that require specialist prescriptions.

The remaining 13 products were found to contain "City Collin," "Bacopa," and "Seoksong," which were blocked from being brought into Korea.

The Korea Consumer Agency explained that if these ingredients are taken incorrectly without a doctor's prescription, they can cause vomiting, miscarriage, or shock in severe cases.

It then said it had advised operators to stop selling 19 products and asked them to block domestic distribution.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety asked the Korea Customs Service to hold off on product customs clearance, and newly designated "Nupept," whose inflow into Korea was first confirmed this time, as an ingredient to block entry into Korea.