What are the common misunderstandings about choosing supplements?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Supplements are used all over the world, but in Japan the rules changed sharply in 2024. If you buy supplements at a Japanese drugstore (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, etc.) or online, knowing why they changed is the starting point for choosing well.
What changed in 2024
In March 2024, health damage linked to products made from red yeast rice (紅麹, beni-kōji) came to light. In response:
- For Foods with Function Claims (機能性表示食品, a Japanese category of food whose maker notifies a health claim to the authorities) sold in supplement form, manufacturing control based on GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) became a requirement the notifying business must meet.
- Reporting information on health damage to the authorities became compulsory.
- The amendments under the Food Labelling Act and the Food Sanitation Act came into force on 1 September 2024.
In other words, the assumption "it's a food, so it's safe" was revisited by the regulators themselves.
[Verify] The content of the reforms and the date they came into force are from Consumer Affairs Agency Food Labelling Division material (August–September 2024). Check the original before publication.
Misunderstanding 1｜They work like medicines
Supplements are foods. They are not meant to heal or prevent any disease.
Misunderstanding 2｜The more you take, the better
There are reports of health damage from taking too much. Do not exceed the amount on the label.
Misunderstanding 3｜It is natural, so it is safe
The 2024 health damage came from a naturally derived ingredient. Origin and safety are two different things.
Misunderstanding 4｜It is fine to take them alongside my medication
Some are known to interact with medicines. If you are on medication, always ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Misunderstanding 5｜The label means the government vouches for that product
Foods with Function Claims are notified on the business's own responsibility. The government does not confirm the effectiveness of each individual product.
People who need particular care
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a chronic condition, take medication, or are buying for a child, always ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
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Sources
- Consumer Affairs Agency, Food Labelling Division, "The future of Foods with Function Claims" [機能性表示食品の今後について] (August and September 2024)
https://www.caa.go.jp/notice/assets/food_labeling_cms201_240823_01.pdf
- Consumer Affairs Agency, information on Foods with Health Claims and health foods [保健機能食品・健康食品に関する情報]
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/food_labeling/foods_with_function_claims/
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (国立研究開発法人 医薬基盤・健康・栄養研究所), "Health Foods" safety and effectiveness information database
https://hfnet.nibn.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is not meant to diagnose or manage any specific medical condition. If you are worried about your health, see a doctor rather than relying on your own judgement.
Sources
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