Many Shanghai consumers are unsatisfied with the health-food market, according to a survey by a consumers' rights watchdog.

Nearly half of those interviewed said they were "unsatisfied" or "very unsatisfied" because of misleading advertisements and the low quality of health food, according to the Shanghai Commission of Consumers' Rights and Interests Protection.

In the commission's first study of health food, 950 people completed questionnaires from July to September.

About 40 percent of interviewees over 60 said they didn't know much about the function of health foods, and another five percent said they had no knowledge about them at all.

"Some companies use deceptive advertising, misleading consumers to believe health foods can replace medicines," said Jin Xuefen, an official with the commission.

The survey also showed that many young people under the age of 40 believed health foods could strengthen their immune systems.

"Not many people at that age have weak immune systems," said Jin. "So they may have been misled by ads."

The commission also tested 26 samples of health foods from local drug stores and supermarkets.

A fruit-plant vitamin complex produced by Shanghai Mac-Life and a multi-vitamin capsule made by the Shanghai Hangyitang Healthy Food Co were found to have quality problems, officials said.

(Shanghai Daily November 26, 2008)