SINGAPORE – Stocks of an ayurvedic supplement have been seized by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) after a woman consuming it was hospitalised for lead poisoning.
HSA has also directed an e-commerce platform to take down listings of a fake probiotic product when a family of three fell ill after consuming the capsules, it said in a statement on Dec 23.
The ayurvedic supplement, known as ayukalp Mahayograj Guggulu, caused the woman in her 30s to experience fatigue, shortness of breath during physical activity and chest discomfort.
She was later diagnosed with anaemia due to lead poisoning and was hospitalised.
According to HSA, the woman got the supplement from Union Yoga Ayurveda after a consultation and took it for about 1½ months for back pain.
HSA’s tests found the product to contain lead, with a level exceeding 6,000 times the acceptable limit for traditional medicines.
According to the authority, acute exposure to high levels of lead, a toxic heavy metal, may result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anaemia, hepatitis and brain injury.
Long-term exposure to very high levels of lead may affect one’s kidneys, digestive and nervous systems.
HSA said it has seized the supply of the supplement from all three local branches of Union Yoga Ayurveda, which is assisting with investigations.
In the other incident, a man and his wife suffered from abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhoea while their two-year-old child developed high fever and had abnormal-coloured faeces after taking fake LactoGG capsules sold on Shopee.
His other children also complained that the capsules tasted different from what they were used to.
The man, who is in his 40s, later suspected the product he bought was fake after discovering irregularities in the printing on the product packaging and discolouration of the contents in the capsules.
HSA’s analysis revealed the product did not contain the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, as stated on its packaging.
The authority has ordered Shopee to remove the affected listings and will take action against the offenders.
All sellers and suppliers must stop selling both products immediately, HSA said, while consumers should stop taking them.
Those who suspect their LactoGG capsules are fake can contact ProbioCare at info@lactogg.com or 6255-5592 between Monday and Friday from 9am to 5pm.
To report those who sell and supply illegal products, contact HSA’s enforcement branch on 6866-3485.
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