South Korea Inspects Hemp Seed Oil and Other Foods Sold Online

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) jointly inspected foods sold through online platforms.¹ The inspection focused on the compliance of hemp seed oil product, as well as false and exaggerated advertisements for foods. Results were published on July 27, 2023.

1. Hemp Seed Oil Inspection Result

Hemp seed oil refers to oil extracted from fully peeled hemp seeds. It may contain trace amounts of cannabis components, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), during extraction. As per Food Code², the allowed amounts for THC and CBD are:

• THC: less than 10 mg/kg

• CBD: less than 20 mg/kg

During MFDS and KCA’s inspection, twenty hemp seed oil products were tested. The result shows that the THC portion in one product exceeds the allowable limit. The product will be subject to sales suspension. Product information is as below:

2. False and Exaggerated Advertising

The authorities also found 36 cases of misleading advertising practices. As stipulated in Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods³, the prohibition of false labeling and advertising includes:

1. Labeling or advertising food to mislead consumers into believing that the food is effective in preventing, treating, or curing any disease;

2. Labeling or advertising food to mislead consumers into believing that the food is a drug;

3. Labeling or advertising a food mislead consumers into believing that the food is a functional health food;

4. Labeling or advertising food in a false or exaggerated manner;

5. Labeling or advertising food in a deceptive manner;

6. Labeling or advertising any company or its product in a slanderous manner;

7. Labeling or advertising a company or its food, by means of false comparison with another business entity or its food without objective evidence;

8. Labeling or advertising in a manner that seriously disturbs public order or social morality using an expression which encourages speculation or is obscene;

9. Labeling or advertising without a review as required.

Among the foods with improper advertisements, 17 products (47.2% of the total) were found with expressions suggesting they were health functional foods , such as "blood circulation improvement" and "immune enhancement". 

（Examples of claiming general foods with functional effects）

In addition, 10 cases were perceived as having efficacy in disease treatment, such as "pain relief" and "disease prevention". 9 products were found with deceptive claims without sufficient objective evidence, such as "superfood".

（Examples of claiming general foods with medical effects） 

（Examples of deceptive advertisements） 

3. Administrative Penalty

The webpages selling foods with prohibited labels and advertisements are to be blocked. Furthermore, the business entities in violation of current regulations will be faced with one or more of the following administrative penalties as stated in Standards for Prohibited Food Labeling and Advertising⁴:

• Suspension of the business licenses for more than two months;

• Revocation of the business licenses or registration;

• Shutdown of the business places;

• Fines.

Read More

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• South Korea Revises Food Code: Amendments to Home Meal Replacement and CBD

• South Korea Consults on COO Labeling Requirements for Imported Foods

• Understanding Food Labeling Requirements in South Korea (Webinar)