WELL-KNOWN crosstalk star Guo Degang has been accused of falsely promoting the efficacy of a "magical diet tea."

In the TV commercial, Guo said he had lost three kilograms since drinking the "miraculous Tibetan tea." His slogan "no big belly after three boxes of tea" soon became as well-known as his own reputation.

However, some experts said the product is no different from ordinary Tibetan tea while the trademark it uses has not received any official approval.

An investigation by Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce also showed that the research institute named in its endorsement is just a one-man company registered by the product's advertising designer.

In an interview with the Beijing Youth Daily, Guo admitted that he had been aware of people's doubts about the tea's quality since he agreed to be its "image ambassador." However, he claimed he had drunk the tea for more than two months and he did lose weight. "I am not the only one who thinks positively about the tea. Many of my friends have also testified about its magical powers," he said.

Guo is reportedly being paid 2 million yuan (US$260,000) for the troubled advertisement. The Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce demanded the "magical" tea be removed from the shelves of medicine stores throughout Beijing from Friday.

It has long been an issue for celebrities to bear responsibility for products they are paid to advertise as they usually make lucrative earnings from such endorsements.

(SD News)