South Korea health functional food adverse reactions exceed 18,000 cases

Reports of adverse reactions to health functional foods in South Korea have exceeded 18,000 cases over the past five years, reaching a record high of 5,250 cases in 2025. Data provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Food Safety Information Service shows a 2.5-fold increase in reported incidents since 2021.

Among the reports, 32 cases were classified as serious, requiring hospitalization or emergency room treatment, or were frequent occurrences reported more than 10 times a month. Specifically, two cases were categorized as 'Grade 5'—the highest risk level requiring immediate public notification due to high causality and severity—and five cases were 'Grade 4'.

Digestive issues, including indigestion, abdominal pain, and constipation, accounted for the largest portion of symptoms at 45.9%. Other reported symptoms included skin issues like itching and hives (18.4%), dizziness (11.8%), and weight gain. The most frequently reported product categories included general nutritional supplements, Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, DHA/EPA-containing oils, probiotics, psyllium husk fiber, and phosphatidylserine.