Health food products spur more complaints
The Consumer Council has seen an increase in complaints about health-food products over the past two years.
The watchdog received 114 complaints regarding health foods in the first nine months, compared with 115 in all of last year and 98 in 2003. It said most of the complaints were about the effectiveness of the health products.
A council spokesman said complaints about food and drinks had yet to be substantiated with scientific data.
'Consumers are prompted by heavy media advertising, which leads them to believe that health-food products are natural, effective and safe,' the spokesman said.
'There is a need for government regulation of health-food products and health supplements to ensure their safety and quality.'
Health-food products are not defined in law in Hong Kong. The Health Department is only responsible for monitoring products registered as pharmaceutical/medicine products or proprietary Chinese medicines.
No proof of health claims and no pre-market approval were required for non-pharmaceutical or non-medical products, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said.
The lucrative market for health-food products attracts investors, including Poman Lo, daughter of Regal Hotels International chairman Lo Yuk-sui. She recently made a seven-digit investment in a series of five health drinks.
The first one, a green-tea drink called Yumura, went on sale on Wednesday. Ms Lo claims the drink helps slimming without unwanted side effects.
'The growth rate for green tea's market is overwhelming,' Ms Lo said. 'The growth for 'functional' fortified drinks is also exponential.'
Tyson Ng Ty-son, a member of the Hong Kong Nutrition Association and the Hong Kong Health Food Association, said consumers should be sensible in using health-food products.
A Health, Welfare and Food Bureau spokesman said: 'It is the long-term goal of the government to set up regulations specifically targeting health-food products.'
