HSA flags 4 health products with undeclared potent ingredients, urges caution

In an attempt to manage his eczema, a man in his 50s took pills that he bought from a local peddler in an Ang Mo Kio coffee shop.

But his habit of taking the product, 通脉9骨胶柔 Tong Mai 9 Gu Jiao Rou, daily for about two years ended in emergency surgery for a perforated gastric ulcer.

He also developed Cushing's syndrome and thinning and bruising of his skin, which led his doctor to suspect that the product he had consumed was adulterated.

In a statement on March 25, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said 通脉9骨胶柔 Tong Mai 9 Gu Jiao Rou was one of four products found to contain potent or banned ingredients such as steroids and sibutramine.

The agency warned against buying or eating these products after they led to adverse side effects in consumers.

通脉9骨胶柔 Tong Mai 9 Gu Jiao Rou, which the peddler also sold to other customers for joint problems, had the potent steroid dexamethasone and painkiller piroxicam, HSA said.

Another product, EZ Empire Be Perfect, which was advertised online as promoting "healthy weight gain" with natural ingredients, led to a woman experiencing steroid side effects.

The woman, who bought the product on e-commerce platform Shopee, consumed it daily for around 10 months. She saw an increase in her appetite and gained more than 10kg.

However, she developed facial rashes and fatigue after she stopped taking it for three days.

Her doctor suspected that her symptoms were due to Cushing's syndrome and steroid withdrawal, and reported the case to HSA.

HSA said the product contained dexamethasone and cyproheptadine, which is an antihistamine and appetite stimulant.

Those who have consumed 通脉9骨胶柔 Tong Mai 9 Gu Jiao Rou or EZ Empire Be Perfect are urged to see a doctor immediately, HSA said.

"Do not stop taking them suddenly as this may cause severe withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, confusion and low blood pressure, especially when these products have been taken for more than a few weeks," it added.

In its statement, the agency also cautioned against eating Re5hape hi Morning and Re5hape bye Night, after a consumer reported suffering from chest pain.

The woman bought the Re5hape products from an Instagram seller, after they were marketed as part of a "health sculpting programme" to lose weight when taken together.

The products were labelled as containing natural food extracts and vitamins.

However, HSA's analysis found that Re5hape hi Morning contained the banned substance sibutramine, while Re5hape bye Night had sennosides, which are laxatives.

"The products were also falsely labelled with 'GMP' logos, which may mislead consumers into believing that the products are safe and manufactured under high-quality standards certified by Good Manufacturing Practice," HSA said.

Listings of both Re5hape products on Carousell and Shopee have been taken down, after HSA worked with platform administrators to do so.

HSA warned sellers and suppliers to stop selling these products immediately, and added that it would take stern enforcement actions against those who sell or supply products adulterated with potent ingredients.

Those found guilty can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both.

Though illegal and adulterated health products often claim to contain natural ingredients, these cases show that they actually contain potent synthetic ingredients that may cause severe medical complications, said Associate Professor Chan Cheng Leng, group director of HSA's health products regulation group.

"While HSA conducts surveillance and testing of health products on the market, we urge consumers to be discerning and buy health products only from reputable sources," said Prof Chan.

A database of illegal health products can be found on HSA's website.