Foods and medicines directly imported from untrustworthy countries...Harmful ingredients detected in more than 70% of diet and hair loss treatment drugs = South Korean report

It was discovered that harmful ingredients were detected in more than 70% of food and medicines imported directly from overseas online. Congressman Baek Jung Heon of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee talks about food and drug safety
According to a report titled ``Current Situation Related to Overseas Directly Purchased Foods and Pharmaceuticals'' submitted by relevant departments and the Customs Agency, diets, muscle strengthening, and
It turns out that most of the sexually functional foods are produced in the United States. In particular, the drugs subject to the crackdown are of various types, including poultices, cold medicines, toothpaste, gastrointestinal medicines, eye drops, ointments, athlete's foot remedies, and skin medicines.
It turned out that it had reached . As a result of inspections of foods purchased directly from overseas over the past three years, in 2021 more than half of the products aimed at other efficacy or effects other than diet, sexual function, and muscle strengthening will be sold.
Harmful ingredients were confirmed in (55.1%). By 2022 and 2023, more than 70% of products were found to contain harmful ingredients, including those aimed at promoting diet, sexual function, and muscle strengthening.
. Among the products targeted for diet, sexual function, and muscle strengthening effects in which harmful ingredients have been detected are phenylethyl ARMY, which belongs to the amphetamine component that is the main ingredient of narcotics, and nerve stabilizer.
5-hydroxytryptophan was detected. In addition, muriapoamer has not been tested for safety and cannot be used for food, and has serious side effects such as liver failure and azoospermia.
There were also anabolic steroids. According to the current status of crackdowns on pharmaceutical misuse compiled by the Customs Service, there will be 14 cases in 2022, double the number of cases detected in 2021 (7 cases).
Ta. The amount was 7.2 billion won (approximately 800 million yen), an increase of 14.3% compared to 2021. By product, 3 cases of hair loss treatment drugs were detected in 2021, accounting for over 90% of the total amount detected.
Ta. In 2022, a total of 7 items including hair loss treatment drugs, erectile dysfunction treatment drugs, and gastrointestinal drugs were seized, accounting for 87.3% of the total amount seized. In 2023 (as of August), two poultices were detected and
This accounted for 59.8% of the total amount issued. In 2021, there were a total of four types of controlled drugs purchased directly from overseas, including a hair loss treatment, a Japanese-made drug, a cat peritonitis treatment, and an acne treatment.
In 2022, it has diversified to include a total of 14 types, including poultices, cold remedies, and toothpaste. According to the Customs Service, the majority of pharmaceuticals purchased directly from overseas come from countries such as China, India, and Japan.
It was purchased from a local sales site. The seized pharmaceuticals were sent to the public prosecutor's office along with incident records after confiscation procedures.
Rep. Baek Jung Heon said, ``The safety of products purchased directly from overseas has not been verified.
``The number of cases in which illegal drugs are misused continues to increase,'' he said, adding, ``The food and drug safety department is strengthening cooperation with the Customs Service and the Broadcasting and Communications Commission, and is increasing the number of cases in which illegal drugs are misused.''
Food and medicines that are distributed illegally should be regulated. "Consumers need to be able to purchase only officially imported foods that are guaranteed to be stable."