A man looking up products advertised as helping to prevent COVID-19 (Photo: hanoimoi.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Taking advantage of fears over the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, numerousadverts have popped up offering healthcare products said to strengthen one’simmune system and prevent the spread of the virus.
Many have fallen prey to the false advertising, rushing to order such items atinflated prices and regardless of their real health benefits, reported Ha Noi Moi (New Hanoi) Newspaper.
Experts warn that most of the products were not beneficial in preventingCOVID-19, while others were considered harmful.
The supplements on offer include vitamin C, black garlic syrup and mouthwash,with prices ranging from 280,000 VND to 890,000 VND (12 to 38 USD) per product.
Health products for children are also abundant, with claims that medicines,supplements and even shower gels can improve a child’s immune system andstrengthen their resistance to COVID-19.
One Facebook account touted an oralspray product from Australia as an effective remedy to ward off the virus ifused daily, reported the paper.
The account also said the second coronavirus-infected patient in Vietnam wascured due to daily use of the spray.
At the Hapulico medicine wholesale market in Vu Trong Phung street in Hanoi’sThanh Xuan district, as well as drug stores on Ngoc Khanh street in Ba Dinh district,food supplements and health products were in high demand.
“Medicines for respiratory infections, vitamin C and multi-vitamin productshave sold well recently,” said Thu Hang, a salesperson at Hapulico.
Notably, most of the supplements and healthcare products which were advertisedhad unclear information regarding ingredients, effects and origins.
As recommended by the Ministry of Health’s Food Safety Department, allsupplements products and vitamins have effects on health but are not to be usedin the treatment or prevention of diseases and viruses.
Tran Van Chau, an inspector from the department, told the paper they haddiscovered several violations in online advertisements for functional foodproducts.
Doctor Lai Thanh Ha from Hanoi’s Thanh Nhan Hospital warned that people shouldbe careful when buying supplements which were advertised as helping preventCOVID-19.
“SARS-CoV-2 was the new strain of the virus. There is no medicine and vaccinefor the virus. So the functional foods certainly could not prevent thedisease,” said Ha.
Regarding use of vitamin C, the doctor also warned of risks of overdose,causing digestive disorders and kidney stones.
Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, head of the National Nutrition Institution, advisedpeople to eat healthy foods, cook meals properly, wash hands regularly andmaintain hygiene./.
Many have fallen prey to the false advertising, rushing to order such items atinflated prices and regardless of their real health benefits, reported Ha Noi Moi (New Hanoi) Newspaper.
Experts warn that most of the products were not beneficial in preventingCOVID-19, while others were considered harmful.
The supplements on offer include vitamin C, black garlic syrup and mouthwash,with prices ranging from 280,000 VND to 890,000 VND (12 to 38 USD) per product.
Health products for children are also abundant, with claims that medicines,supplements and even shower gels can improve a child’s immune system andstrengthen their resistance to COVID-19.
One Facebook account touted an oralspray product from Australia as an effective remedy to ward off the virus ifused daily, reported the paper.
The account also said the second coronavirus-infected patient in Vietnam wascured due to daily use of the spray.
At the Hapulico medicine wholesale market in Vu Trong Phung street in Hanoi’sThanh Xuan district, as well as drug stores on Ngoc Khanh street in Ba Dinh district,food supplements and health products were in high demand.
“Medicines for respiratory infections, vitamin C and multi-vitamin productshave sold well recently,” said Thu Hang, a salesperson at Hapulico.
Notably, most of the supplements and healthcare products which were advertisedhad unclear information regarding ingredients, effects and origins.
As recommended by the Ministry of Health’s Food Safety Department, allsupplements products and vitamins have effects on health but are not to be usedin the treatment or prevention of diseases and viruses.
Tran Van Chau, an inspector from the department, told the paper they haddiscovered several violations in online advertisements for functional foodproducts.
Doctor Lai Thanh Ha from Hanoi’s Thanh Nhan Hospital warned that people shouldbe careful when buying supplements which were advertised as helping preventCOVID-19.
“SARS-CoV-2 was the new strain of the virus. There is no medicine and vaccinefor the virus. So the functional foods certainly could not prevent thedisease,” said Ha.
Regarding use of vitamin C, the doctor also warned of risks of overdose,causing digestive disorders and kidney stones.
Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, head of the National Nutrition Institution, advisedpeople to eat healthy foods, cook meals properly, wash hands regularly andmaintain hygiene./.
VNA
