The effect of Yeomyeong808 on relieving hangovers is unclear, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety requested supplements, which was revealed on the 19th. The Ministry announced the results of the analysis of evidence from human application trials for 89 products from 46 hangover remedy companies.
Starting this year, to include phrases like "for hangovers" and "the day after drinking" on products, human application trials must be conducted to verify their actual effects. The Ministry has instructed manufacturers to submit the results of the human application trials.
The Ministry analyzed the data submitted by companies and concluded that about 90%, or 80 of the analyzed products, actually have hangover relief effects. These include HK inno.N's "Condition Heugye," Samyang Corporation's "Sanghwae-hwan," Dong-A Pharmaceutical's "Morning Care," HANDOK's "ReadyQ Drink Original," and LOTTE Chilsung Beverage's "Kkaesugang."
On the other hand, 9 products, including Yeomyeong808 from Grammy Co., Ltd. and ChoA Pharmaceutical's Heunggeun, are unclear whether they have hangover relief effects, prompting the Ministry to request supplementary materials. It is reported that Grammy submitted human trial data, but it was too old, leading to the request for supplements. The company is currently working on the supplementary data.
The Ministry plans to exclude any products from hangover relief claims if the effects remain unclear in the supplementary materials. Some manufacturers are reportedly considering removing the hangover relief phrases from product packaging instead of supplementing the materials, citing time and expense concerns regarding the human application trials requested by the Ministry.
Human application trials are conducted by recruiting adult participants at hospitals or research institutions, where they consume the hangover relief product and then drink alcohol 30 minutes later. If a participant weighs 60 kg, they are required to drink more than one bottle of soju. Subsequently, blood samples are taken eight times, and if the blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels change significantly, it is determined that the product has hangover relief effects.
When alcohol is consumed, some is eliminated through breath, urine, and sweat, while most is detoxified in the liver. Alcohol is converted to acetic acid via acetaldehyde in the liver, and later eliminated as carbon dioxide and water. Acetaldehyde among them causes symptoms of hangovers, such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
The Ministry stated, "We will protect consumers from indiscriminate functional claims and advertisements," and emphasized, "We will establish proper distribution order."