Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

HSA flags 3 illegal health products found to contain potent drugs, banned substance

SINGAPORE — The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has issued an alert to members of the public to not consume or buy three health products that may pose serious health risks.

The Health Sciences Authority flagged three products — Shen Qi Dan Bai Nian Cao Yao, Freaky Fitz and Ricalinu — for containing potent medicinal ingredients that are prohibited in such products.

The Health Sciences Authority flagged three products — Shen Qi Dan Bai Nian Cao Yao, Freaky Fitz and Ricalinu — for containing potent medicinal ingredients that are prohibited in such products.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has issued an alert to members of the public to not consume or buy three health products that may pose serious health risks.

The three products are Shen Qi Dan Bai Nian Cao Yao, Ricalinu and Freaky Fitz, which HSA said contain potent medicinal ingredients that are prohibited in such products.

ILL EFFECTS OF SUPPOSED PAIN RELIEVER

A woman in her 70s experienced chest discomfort after consuming Shen Qi Dan Bai Nian Cao Yao, which is supposedly for pain relief in adults and children.

In a press release sent to the media, HSA said that the woman obtained the product from her friend who bought it in Malaysia.

The product manufacturers claimed that it contained only herbal ingredients. However, HSA said that upon further inspection, it found potent drugs in it, including chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine), dexamethasone (a steroid), diclofenac (a painkiller), and frusemide (a medicine for removing excess water from the body).

FAILED ATTEMPT TO IMPORT PRODUCT

HSA said that a man in his 40s tried to bring in 20 boxes of Ricalinu, after buying them in Indonesia, but was thwarted by the authorities at the Singapore Cruise Centre.

The product manufacturers claimed that Ricalinu contains only herbs that can cure a host of ailments including gout and rheumatism, but HSA’s tests found three medicinal ingredients: Dexamethasone (a potent steroid), meloxicam and tramadol (potent painkillers).

BANNED SUBSTANCE FOUND 

HSA said that it received feedback from a member of the public that Freaky Fritz was marketed online with exaggerated claims that it can help consumers slim down within days.

The authority's tests found that it contained a banned substance called sibutramine, which was previously a prescription medicine but has been banned in Singapore since 2010 due to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

This so-called slimming drink comes with a falsified Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) logo (a quality certification mark), which may mislead consumers into thinking that it is a safe product that has been manufactured under high-quality standards, HSA said.

ADVICE TO CONSUMERS

HSA advised anyone who has consumed any of the three products to see a doctor immediately and to stop using them.

It said that consumers should be cautious of health products that are advertised to deliver quick and miraculous results or carry exaggerated claims. Caution must be exercised even if the product appears well-packaged or has logos of international standards printed on them.

It also advised consumers to buy health products from familiar sources.

HSA said that all sellers and suppliers must stop selling these products immediately.

Sellers and suppliers of illegal products may be jailed up to three years, or fined up to S$100,000, or both.

Related topics

HSA health risk medicine supplements weight loss

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.