Core Viewpoint - The health food industry in China has seen improved market order and quality safety levels since 2020, with a continuous decline in the non-compliance rate of health food inspections, remaining below 0.6% for five consecutive years [1][5]. Group 1: Regulatory Measures - The State Administration for Market Regulation has classified health foods as special foods, imposing stricter evaluations and technical reviews on their safety, health functions, and quality control compared to ordinary foods [3]. - Over the past five years, a total of 175,000 batches of health foods have been inspected nationwide, with timely actions taken against non-compliant products, including removal from shelves and recalls [5]. - Since 2020, comprehensive inspections have been conducted on all operating health food production enterprises, covering 2,520 instances and identifying over 26,000 issues, with 100% of these issues rectified [5]. Group 2: Upcoming Standards - A new national standard for health food production is set to be released, which will significantly enhance regulatory effectiveness and impose higher requirements on raw material and production process management [7]. Group 3: Consumer Awareness - The China Consumers Association advises consumers to recognize health food labels and purchase products based on their health functions and suitable demographics, while being cautious of misleading marketing tactics [9]. - Consumers are warned against purchasing health foods through informal channels and should report any fraudulent claims or deceptive practices to the authorities [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - The distinction between "health products" and "health food" is emphasized, highlighting the lack of legal definition for "health products" and the specific legal status of "health food" under Chinese law [1] Group 1: Definition and Regulation - "Health products" encompass a wide range of items without a clear legal definition, including those claiming specific health benefits like "health wine" and "weight loss coffee" [1] - "Health food" is defined under the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, requiring registration or filing, and can claim specific health functions [1] Group 2: Consumer Guidance - Consumers are advised to recognize the health food label (commonly known as "small blue hat") and approval number, and to choose products based on health functions and suitable demographics [1] - It is recommended to purchase health food from legitimate online and offline channels, retaining invoices or sales receipts, and to be cautious of purchasing through social media or live streaming [1] Group 3: Awareness and Rights - Consumers should enhance their risk awareness and self-protection, being vigilant against false marketing tactics that imply health benefits or use misleading concepts like "natural" or "weight loss" [1] - In case of quality issues, consumers are encouraged to contact sellers for after-sales service, and to report false advertising or consumer fraud by calling the 12315 hotline or consulting consumer associations [1]

Core Viewpoint - The distinction between "health products" and "health food" is significant, with the former lacking clear legal definitions and often associated with misleading claims, while the latter is legally registered and can claim specific health benefits [1][2]. Group 1: Definition and Distinction - "Health products" encompass a wide range of items without clear legal definitions, including those claiming specific health benefits like "health wine" and "weight loss coffee" [1]. - "Health food" is a legally defined category under China's food safety law, allowing for specific health claims, while other foods cannot make such claims [1]. Group 2: Consumer Guidance - Consumers should recognize the health food label (commonly known as "small blue hat") and approval number, and choose products based on their health functions and target groups [2]. - It is advised to purchase health food from legitimate online and offline channels, retaining invoices or sales receipts, and to be cautious of purchases through social media or live streams [2]. - Consumers are encouraged to enhance their risk awareness and self-protection, being vigilant against false marketing tactics that suggest health benefits or treatments for diseases [2]. - Consumers should maintain their legal rights, reporting quality issues or fraudulent claims to the appropriate authorities [2].

Core Viewpoint - The market regulatory authorities and consumer associations in China have issued a warning to consumers about the misleading claims of ordinary food products being marketed as health supplements or having health benefits, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between ordinary food, health food, and pharmaceuticals [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - There is a strict legal distinction between ordinary food, health food, and pharmaceuticals in China, with laws prohibiting false advertising and claims related to disease prevention and treatment [2]. - The laws such as the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, Advertising Law, and Consumer Rights Protection Law explicitly forbid misleading commercial promotions of food products [2]. Group 2: Consumer Guidance - Consumers are advised to carefully check product labels to identify whether they are ordinary food, health food, or pharmaceuticals, and to look for the "blue hat" symbol on health food products [3]. - It is recommended to purchase health food from reputable e-commerce platforms and physical stores, avoiding unverified sources such as social media or informal groups [3].

Core Viewpoint - The market regulatory authorities and consumer associations in China have issued a warning to consumers about the misleading claims made by some online sellers regarding ordinary food products being marketed as health supplements or having disease prevention and treatment effects [1][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - There is a strict distinction between ordinary food, health food, and pharmaceuticals according to Chinese laws and regulations [2]. - Labels and instructions for food and food additives must not contain false information or mention disease prevention or treatment functions [3]. - Health food is not a substitute for medical treatment, and various laws prohibit false or misleading commercial promotions of food products [4]. Group 2: Consumer Guidance - Consumers should be cautious of ordinary food being misrepresented as health food and should recognize the packaging labels that indicate whether a product is ordinary food, health food, or a pharmaceutical [4]. - When purchasing health food, consumers should look for the "blue hat" symbol and select products based on their health functions and suitable demographics, following the label instructions [5]. - It is advised to purchase health food from reputable e-commerce platforms and avoid unverified sources such as social media or small programs, as well as to buy from legitimate stores and request invoices or receipts [6].