A photo of Yakult probiotic milk on sale. Photo: VCG

The Shanghai subsidiary of Japanese sweetened probiotic milk brand Yakult has been fined 450,000 yuan ($69,736) for promoting probiotics' important role in COVID-19 prevention and treatment, misleading consumers amid the epidemic. 

The promotion was beneficial in increasing Yakult's sales and hindered fair competition among other probiotics beverage peers, according to the administrative penalty notification issued by the Pudong New Area administration for market regulation in Shanghai. 

In April 2020, Yakult sent out promotional leaflets in a supermarket, saying it had "received first national certification" that probiotics "play an important role" in COVID-19 prevention and treatment, improperly citing the country's protocol for diagnosis and treatment of the epidemic.

Yakult (China) Corp apologized over the matter, saying it was grossly mismanaged and was deeply ashamed. It vowed to prevent similar incidents from happening again. 

Global Times