The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) recently investigated claims that crystal salt products can neutralize radiation from computers, microwaves and other household appliances and warned shops and online shopping sites against making such unsubstantiated claims in advertisements.
Products made from crystal salt such as crystal salt lamps, amethyst crystal bracelets and pendants and desktop decorations can be priced upwards of tens of thousands of NT dollars and are widely available in stores across the country and on numerous online shopping sites, such as PChome, Yahoo and Momo Shop.
CLAIMS
Many of them claim that by putting crystal salt, which acts as a natural negative ionizer, in one’s room, one can neutralize electromagnetic radiation emitted by electric appliances ranging from cellphones to televisions.
Some advertisers even claim that because crystal salt emits a negative electrical charge, it creates a magnetic field that is beneficial to people’s health and can even have healing powers and attract wealth and prosperity.
ATOMIC EXPERTS
However, after checking with experts at the Atomic Energy Council, the commission concluded that crystal salt’s alleged abilities in absorbing, neutralizing or decreasing radiation are unsubstantiated and not founded on scientific research, commission Vice Chairperson Shih Hui-fen (施惠芬) said.
The commission issued a warning to Jen Ching (振晶店實業), one of the nation’s largest retailers of crystal salt products, for making such claims on its Web site and advertisements without sound evidence to back up the claims.
Jen Ching immediately complied and removed related words and phrases from its product information.
WARNING
Shih said the commission issued a warning to Jen Ching rather than a fine because its products are moderately priced and the company cooperated with authorities by removing the misleading information from its advertisements.
Similar warnings were also issued to online retailers and shopping sites.
Manufacturers and retailers of crystal products that fail to remove false or misleading descriptions from their advertisements or Web sites could be fined up to NT$100 million (US$3 million) for violation of the Fair Trade Act (公平交易法), Shih said.
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