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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) notifies consumers that  certain sellers of food supplements try to misuse the concerns of the public in relation to the expansion of COVID-19 disease. Within the cases which are currently dealt with, CAFIA inspectors revealed that some sellers used banned medical and unauthorized health claims when promoting food supplements, namely by stating alleged effects against coronavirus. Following cases are concerned:

1. Internet sale in e-shop: www.joalis.cz, operator: ECONOMY CLASS COMPANY s.r.o.; in relation to foodstuffs Joaliss Imun and Joalis Gripin, the inspected person stated on the website (http://www.joalis.cz/cs/eshop/sezonni-a-akcnibalicky/imun-gripin-koronavirus-zdrava-imunita) following medical claims: “coronavirus”, “helps to protect body against various respiratory infections including the repeatedly mentioned coronavirus”, “important for coping with infection”, “prevention”. Using the banned claims the operator violated requirements of Regulation No. 1169/2011 on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers.

2. Leaflet offer of natural person Filip Vítů; according to the inspected person, leaflets were distributed in metro stations in Prague and into boxes in city district Prague – Prosek in amount of 3,000 pieces. Leaflets stated, inter alia, information: “Coronavirus prevention”. Using the banned claim the operator violated requirements of Regulation No. 1169/2011 on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers.

CAFIA strongly warns consumers and inspected persons that food supplements are regarded as foodstuffs and therefore they cannot be assigned either by medical or preventive effects as these are reserved to medicaments only.

CAFIA will initiate an administrative procedure on imposition of a fine with the inspected persons.

CAFIA inspectors currently deal with other cases of suspicion that unauthorised medical claims are used in relation to food supplements just in connection with the viral pandemic. CAFIA will continue to carry out inspections of the use of unauthorized medical claims of this type of food supplements.

Article by: Mgr. Pavel Kopřiva – CAFIA Spokesperson, phone: +420 542 426 633   

19^th March 2020