FDA bans sale of two inhalers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered an immediate suspension of sales of two herbal inhalers - including the popular Hong Thai Formula 2 - after laboratory tests found substandard levels of microbial contamination in collected samples.

- APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

Earlier, it issued a public warning covering the Hong Thai product.

Suphattra Bunserm, FDA secretarygeneral, said the order covers Hong Thai Herbal Inhaler Formula 2 (registration number G 309/62, lot number 000332) and ChamaHerbs Herbal Inhaler (registration number G 561/67, lot number NF 2522503001). The affected products are to be recalled from the market and destroyed. The FDA launched its laboratory testing programme in May after online reports emerged of mould found in certain herbal inhalers, which had allegedly caused respiratory infections.