This article was published on March 11, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. on the ChosunBiz RM Report site.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety confirmed on the 11th that out of 30 overseas direct-purchase food products claiming to prevent hair loss and to enhance breast size, 16 products were found to contain prohibited substances in customs.
According to the Food Safety Korea website operated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, prohibited substances were found in 16 products related to hair loss treatment and breast enhancement. Earlier, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety noted that it would conduct detailed inspections on 20 products claiming hair loss treatment and 10 products claiming breast enhancement, and will announce the results of the inspections in March. With the recent increase in the amount of overseas direct-purchase food products entering the country, consumer harm has also increased, prompting proactive preventive measures.
Among the 16 products, 11 were for hair loss treatment and 5 were for breast enhancement. By country of manufacture, 15 were from the United States and 1 was from China. The prohibited substances detected in this planned inspection varied by product, including L-Citrulline, PABA, Black Cohosh, and Epimedium. These substances are often found as major harmful ingredients during inspections of overseas direct-purchase food products.
L-Citrulline was primarily found in supplements claiming to enhance breast size. This substance is a type of amino acid primarily found in watermelon, melon, etc., and is known to have a positive effect on blood pressure and vascular function. However, in South Korea, it is classified as a pharmaceutical ingredient and is used in fatigue recovery agents and medications for liver diseases. Therefore, L-Citrulline should not be added to food products, but it was included in the overseas direct-purchase supplements.
While L-Citrulline was found in breast enhancement supplements this time, it is also often sought by people who enjoy exercise for fatigue recovery and muscle strengthening, so caution is needed. An industry official noted, "Citrulline has positive effects such as vasodilation, blood pressure regulation, enhancement of exercise performance, and immune system strengthening, but excessive intake can lead to side effects such as lowered blood pressure," and also mentioned the risks of skin rashes, electrolyte imbalances, and acute renal failure.
Black Cohosh and PABA are also classified as pharmaceutical ingredients. Since their safety as food has not been proven, they cannot be used as food ingredients in South Korea.
Black Cohosh is known as a plant-based female hormone herbal ingredient that helps alleviate menopausal symptoms. Since it affects hormones, it is advisable for individuals suffering from related diseases, pregnant women, or those who are breastfeeding to avoid taking it.
PABA, also known as para-aminobenzoic acid, is a type of vitamin B10. The PABA ingredient was primarily found in products claiming to treat hair loss during this inspection. Side effects such as vomiting, tachycardia, hives, and itching may occur.
To strengthen safety management of overseas direct-purchase food products, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to nearly double the annual purchase and inspection count from 3,400 last year to 6,000 this year. Overseas direct-purchase food products cannot guarantee safety because consumers receive products directly from overseas sellers, and there is no recourse for damages. Particularly, concerns for harm are high due to the uncertainty of purifying pharmaceutical ingredient impurities and quality control, which may lead to severe side effects.
An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety noted, "Before purchasing, it is essential to check whether the product contains ingredients or substances that are blocked from entering the country on the 'Safe Overseas Direct-Purchase Food' website." Since 2008, the Ministry has been directly purchasing overseas direct-purchase food products that are suspected of being harmful and conducting safety inspections. For food products that have been confirmed to contain harmful ingredients, the Ministry requests customs to withhold clearance and the Korea Communications Commission to block access to online sales sites to prevent them from entering the country.