In a case cracked by the administration and public security authorities, a fake health food product with a wholesale price of 53.5 yuan was sold mainly to elderly people for nearly 1,500 yuan.

The effects of some products were exaggerated, misleading customers, said Yu Kang, deputy director of the nutrition department under Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Such products mainly target chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, he said.

Some companies illegally added drug components or other banned additives to health food products to boost their efficacy, Yan added.

This often happens to products related to diabetes, weight reduction and male impotence, she said.

To consolidate future achievements of the campaign, "the administration will conduct research aiming to set up the institutions and mechanism to better supervise and regulate the health food industry," she said.

"Legislation will also be considered to regulate the industry."