FDA warns vs unregistered vitamin syrup sold in schools

Health authorities warned the public against buying a brand of vitamin syrup being sold in some school premises.

The Food and Drug Administration said it received reports the "Citrange" syrup was being sold in school premises in Cagayan Valley at P380, in cash or installment.

"Some parents were deceived not only because of the claimed benefits but because there is a letter, allegedly from the Department of Education, being shown by the peddler," FDA acting director Kenneth Hartigan-Go said in FDA Advisory 2013-030.

"This advisory is being issued to warn the public and consumers, especially the children and parents, not to fall prey to the marketing schemes of unscrupulous peddlers.  This product is reportedly being sold in Cagayan Valley but might be present in other regions as well," he added.

Also, he urged school administrators to be more vigilant and "to ensure that the products being sold inside school premises is FDA-registered and to be more cautious before entering into an agreement or receiving sponsorship from food and drug establishments."

Hartigan-Go said the peddlers claimed the product was approved by the FDA, and could help cure children suffering from asthma or improve children's memory.

"(But) there were parents who already complained that their children became sleepy or lazy to attend their classes after taking the product," he said.

Hartigan-Go said the FDA is now investigating the reports about the syrup.

But he said their initial findings show Citrange vitamin syrup is not registered with the FDA, and the alleged manufacturer, Linderbergh Food Products Valley in Valenzuela City, has an expired FDA License to Operate (RDII-MM-F-2454).

Also, he said the company had stopped operating since December 2008.

"As an FDA-licensed food manufacturer before, it manufactured flavored drink concentrates but not Citrange vitamin syrup," he added.

In the meantime, Hartigan-Go urged the public to email the FDA via info@fda.gov.ph, and report any unregistered health product viareport@fda.gov.ph. — VC, GMA News