System for Reporting Adverse Effects of “Health Foods”－The Role of Public Health Centers and the Importance of Social Awareness

Abstract

The role of “health foods” is to maintain and promote good health status by providing nutrients that are in short supply. On the other hand, the use of some commercial products is associated with certain risks. In order to prevent and minimize health problems associated with the consumption of “health foods”, it is important for regulatory agencies to quickly detect any signs of such risks. For this purpose, it is essential to have a system for reporting health problems related to these products. Some of these health problems are not necessarily limited to serious cases, and many are not reported because the symptoms are mild. This means that some health problems tend to remain hidden. However, the ongoing revision of the current system for reporting health problems has steadily improved its effectiveness. Furthermore, public health centers have been playing a central role by identifying health problems in the community and taking initial action, thus supporting the reporting system. However, public awareness of the role of these health centers is not always sufficient, which may make it difficult to quickly share information about health problems among relevant parties. Therefore, in this article, we describe the role of public health centers and the importance of social awareness for preventing the adverse effects of health foods.