Dodgy ads under new fire

Dodgy ads under new fire

Caterpillar fungus ‘cure’ draws FDA scrutiny

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is teaming up with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a new fight to curb exaggerated advertisements, which are on the rise again.

The agencies yesterday vowed to take tough legal action against offenders of laws prohibiting exaggerated advertisements, which range from fines of 500,000 baht to 5 million baht per advertisement to a maximum prison term of three years.

Lt Gen Perapong Manakit, commissioner of the NBTC, said the problem of exaggerated advertisements was now rising again after having subsided for some time.

In a major case of exaggerated advertising, caterpillar fungus (ophiocordyceps sinensis) was being touted as a cure-all wonder drug, which was supported by…