The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has warned that health and nutritional benefits claimed in advertisements for food products sold in Maldives are often not supported by scientific evidence.

In a statement issued today, the authority said some locally produced and marketed food products were advertised using reports from food research laboratories to support claims about their nutritional benefits.

However, laboratory reports cannot be used as a substitute for the required evidence when making health claims in food advertising, the MFDA said.

The authority also cautioned against marketing products as capable of curing diseases or producing specific changes in the human body without scientific evidence.

“Health information contained in foods prepared, manufactured and advertised as curing diseases or bringing about desirable changes in the body should be accurate and proven by scientific research. However, we highlight that most of what is sold on the Maldives market its nutritional benefits cannot be backed by scientific research,” the statement said.

MFDA urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing and consuming products promoted with unverified health or nutritional claims.