Taipei:A probiotic seller has been fined a total of NT$4.02 million (US$125,000) this year for repeated violations over advertisements falsely claiming that the product could "reverse kidney disease," Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Huo Hua Sheng probiotic product has been ordered to remove the misleading advertisements and has accumulated fines totaling NT$8.9 million since 2024. The product's endorser, nephrologist Chiang Shou-shan, has been referred for disciplinary action.

The TFDA indicated that the product and Chiang frequently appeared in television and other media advertisements, promoting purported health benefits and making exaggerated claims about the probiotic's ability to treat or reverse kidney disease.

Cheng Wei-chih, head of the TFDA's Planning and Technology Management Division, explained that while the product mainly contains probiotics and lactic acid bacteria, the advertisements could mislead consumers into believing the food had therapeutic effects. Such claims might also cause individuals to delay seeking medical treatment, Cheng noted, emphasizing that these advertisements violate regulations prohibiting false, exaggerated, or misleading claims regarding food products.

The Huo Hua Sheng product has faced repeated fines for its advertising practices. TFDA data shows that authorities imposed NT$3.08 million in fines in 2024 and NT$1.8 million in 2025. This year, authorities identified seven violations involving the product on four television channels, resulting in another NT$4.02 million in fines, bringing the cumulative total to NT$8.9 million.

The TFDA has requested television industry groups to ensure that the offending advertisements are removed from their member channels. Meanwhile, Chiang has been referred to the Taipei City Health Bureau for disciplinary action under the Physicians Act, with potential penalties including a warning, restrictions on medical practice, or revocation of his medical license.

The TFDA urged consumers, especially those with kidney disease, to remember that food products are not medicines and cannot replace proper medical treatment or claim to cure diseases.