The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea announced on May 27 that it has identified 95 cases of unfair advertising for cosmetics that could be mistaken for food products. The crackdown targeted online sales posts of so-called 'Funsumer' cosmetics—products designed to mimic the shape, container, or packaging of food items—raising concerns about accidental ingestion, especially by infants and children.
Conducted by the MFDS in consultation with a public-private advisory body comprising the Korea Consumer Organizations Council, the Korean Women's Association, the Consumers' Union of Korea, the Korea Cosmetic Association, and legal experts, the inspection focused on products visually resembling food, such as cupcake-shaped bath salts, fruit- or jelly-shaped soaps, and other items that could be confused with edible products.
Among the 95 violations, the breakdown by product type was: cleansing soap (68 cases, 72%), bath additives (22 cases, 23%), body cleanser (2 cases, 2%), lip balm (1 case, 1%), hand cream (1 case, 1%), and body lotion (1 case, 1%). Notable examples included cosmetics shaped like cupcakes, macarons, donuts, candy, rice cakes, jelly, and fruits, as well as products using food-like containers and packaging.
Under the current Cosmetics Act, it is prohibited to manufacture, import, store, or display cosmetics that imitate the shape, smell, color, size, container, or packaging of food in a way that could lead to misuse, such as ingestion. Advertising or labeling that could cause consumers to mistake cosmetics for food is also banned.
The MFDS has requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission to block the 95 identified unfair advertising posts. Local MFDS offices and municipal governments will conduct on-site inspections of the companies that advertised or sold these cosmetics. Violators will face administrative measures, including product recalls and disposal to prevent distribution. The MFDS also plans follow-up actions, such as corrective orders, to prevent recurrence.
The MFDS emphasized that cosmetics should only be used for their intended purpose—cleansing, beautifying, or maintaining skin and hair health—and warned that ingestion could cause vomiting, abdominal pain, or even serious physical harm. It advised storing cosmetics out of reach of young children, who are at higher risk of accidental swallowing. The agency pledged to continue collaborating with consumer groups to ensure a safe cosmetics distribution environment.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 27, 2026