Bogus claims for coffee prompt stiffening of statute
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday banned Herbio Coffee ads after finding they made exaggerated claims, and plans to amend the Food Act to better protect customers, FDA secretary-general Siriwat Thiptaradol said.
Advertisements for the coffee mixed with "Collagen Herbio", sold at Bt160 per pack, claimed it could help people to lighten their skin, reduce wrinkles and lose weight.FDA officials collected Herbio Coffee samples for testing from various beauty salons and shops in Buri Ram and Nakhon Phanom provinces and found that the product did not have the effects claimed. Owners of shops that still circulate the banned advertising pamphlets face imprisonment for two years, Siriwat said. Many sellers have raised the prices of their drink products by adding certain natural substances such as collagen, amino acid and CoEnzyme Q10 and advertised that they have qualities different from normal drinks. The FDA is in the process of amending the Food Act 1979 to increase the penalty for misleading advertising. Siriwat said the punishment for advertising without FDA permission was only a fine of up to Bt5, 000, which was too little to discourage offenders. The Nation
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