Yao Ming has been sued by Beijing resident Feng Changshun for 'misleading' promotion of a certain health food products.

Feng is also filing a lawsuit against local retail chain Baxsun Pharmacy for giving him exaggerated claims about the benefits of the fish oil capsules, according to China.org.

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The Xicheng district court in Beijing will hear Feng's case, but no date has been set yet. The complainant is seeking $80.10 (CNY500) in compensation from Baxsun and CNY0.01 from the former NBA star.

Feng said the lawsuit against Yao is "symbolic." He said he wants the health food endorser to admit infringing on his consumer rights.

The Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests was enacted on March 15. This new law holds both producer and endorser responsible for products or services that cause harm to consumers.

Based on Feng's account, he purchased a bottle of By-Health Co's fish oil capsules in February at a Baxsun branch to remedy his poor eyesight and occasional memory loss. He said the pharmacy's sales assistants handed him a promotional pamphlet about the capsules together with the product and told him the pills would help cure his ailments.

The fish oil capsules were produced by By-Health Co, a Guangzhou-based company.

Being a big fan of Yao, Feng bought the product endorsed by the NBA star. However, the supplements did not cure his ailments and he found out that fish oil is only classified as a health food and not medicine.

Yao has been the endorser of By-Health Co since December 2010. The company produces dietary products and health foods.

According to Lu Hao, Yao's agent in China, the former NBA player has talked to the firm about the lawsuit and understands that the product's claims on all its promotional materials and websites are in accordance with the law and are not misleading.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, By-Health said the promotions of its fish oil capsules abide with the law and that the quality of its products is at par with the set safety standards of the country.