Some unscrupulous merchants take advantage of the health needs of the elderly, set up various schemes with free benefits, warm-hearted schemes, and false publicity, so that elderly friends fall into the "health care" spending trap, which will not only lose pension money, but also more likely to delay formal treatment and harm their physical health.

Formal health-care foods are supposed to be a helpful aid to health, but they are being used as a tool for profit by some unscrupulous businesses. To help elderly friends brighten their eyes and consume scientifically and rationally, the Municipal Market Regulatory Bureau has issued consumption tips.

Recognize the essence: health care products are not health food, health care food is not medicine, and cannot cure diseases

Health Products ≠ Health Foods

There is no clear legal definition of "health care products," but generally it is a general term for products that have health benefits to the human body. The health products covered in many media reports are not health foods, but are ordinary foods such as pressed candy, solid drinks or primary agricultural products, and some even mattresses, water cups, and physiotherapy devices.

Health Foods ≠ Medicines

A health food is a food that claims to have a health function or to supplement vitamins, Food for the purpose of nutrients such as minerals is food that is suitable for consumption by a specific population, has the purpose of regulating the function of the body, is not intended to treat disease, and does not produce any acute, subacute or chronic harm to the human body. Health food is a functional food, not a drug, and does not have any disease prevention or treatment effect, still less is a "universal medicine" to cure a variety of diseases. If you experience discomfort, be sure to visit the hospital in time, follow the medical advice, and never replace medicine with health food to avoid delaying the condition.

Four big scams to crack quickly.

The "free" temptation trap

Using "free health lectures," "free medical exams" and "gift giveaways" as bait, exaggerating the results of medical exams to create health panic and induce high prices for ineffective products.

The "relationship" kidnapping scheme

Through "warm services" such as warmth and door-to-door companionship, they gain trust, and then pressure to buy with "exclusive offers," making the elderly "shy to refuse."

"False" Identity Assent

They falsify the identity of "experts" and "renowned doctors," impersonate scientific research institutions, or hire "recovery patients" to appear, and fabricate false cures to mislead consumption.

"Private domain" live streaming scams

The use of chat groups and private video live broadcasts to push "health care articles" induce people to click on unknown links and transfer money for purchase, which is highly concealed and has a high rate of fraud.

Choose a product rationally and protect your rights in a timely manner

When shopping for health foods, check the blue hat logo and approval number of the package, and never buy products without registration or documentation.

Choose a well-licensed and reputable mall, supermarket, specialty store or formal e-commerce platform to buy, and never buy through mobile vendors, unlicensed small shops, or referral channels from strangers to avoid counterfeit and substandard products.

Carefully read the health food labels and instructions before buying, identify the suitable groups and unsuitable groups, and the amount to eat, make scientific choices according to your own health needs, and don't blindly follow the trend of purchasing multi-effective products.

When purchasing, it is essential to ask for and maintain invoices, receipts, product packaging, instructions, the qualifications of the seller, promotional materials, etc. as key proofs of rights protection.

Before buying high-priced health food, the elderly should communicate with their children and family in a timely manner to hear opinions, so as to avoid being emotionally kidnapped or misled by false propaganda. When you find that your legal rights and interests have been violated or you find illegal and unlawful behavior, call 12345 or 12315 in a timely manner to file a complaint and report it, actively provide clues of evidence to safeguard your legal Rights and Interests.

Caregivers are in action

Here, we also call on children and relatives to pay more attention to the elderly in their families. We will proactively popularize the knowledge of consumer fraud prevention, work with market regulatory authorities to jointly strengthen the safety line for elderly health care food consumption, protect the health and money pockets of elderly people, and let elderly friends stay away from traditional health care traps, and enjoy a happy old age with health, peace and stability.