On 16/10, the Food Safety Authority (FSA) under the Ministry of Health, sent a document to Shopee Company Limited, stating that post-inspection revealed the Sausando Slimming capsule was being advertised and sold on the e-commerce platform. The product was promoted for its ability to supplement L-Carnitine, support fat burning, and aid in body shaping.
The sales information cited product registration certificate number 5218/2023/DKSP, dated 16/6/2023. However, a data search by the Food Safety Authority confirmed that no such certificate with the stated number and date was issued for this product.
The regulatory body demanded Shopee cease sales and remove all information regarding the Sausando Slimming capsule. It also instructed Shopee to review all functional food business activities on its platform, ensuring only products compliant with registration regulations are circulated.
Regulations stipulate that health protection foods, medical nutrition foods, and special dietary foods must register their product declarations with competent authorities before circulation. In contrast, dietary supplements fall under self-declaration rules. Additionally, advertising certain product categories, including health protection foods, requires content confirmation prior to publication.
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The product was advertised and sold on the e-commerce platform. *Photo: Food Safety Authority*
Recent post-inspections by authorities have uncovered numerous product violations on e-commerce platforms. For example, the Ministry of Health recently identified "An cung nguu hoang hoan Han Quoc hop go 10 vien" being sold on Shopee without a valid product registration certificate, constituting an advertising violation.
According to the Agency of E-commerce and Digital Economy, in 2025, over 13,700 violating online retail shops were removed for selling counterfeit, prohibited, or unverified origin goods, or for violating consumer protection regulations. A growing concern is the increasing sophistication of counterfeit items directly impacting health, such as functional foods, cosmetics, and medicines.
Buyers are advised to verify product declaration information, origin, and the responsible entity for products, rather than relying solely on document numbers or seller-provided advertisements.
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