FDA warns vs. unregistered food products and supplements

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Saturday issued advisories to healthcare professionals and the general public against buying and consuming unregistered food products and food supplements in the market.

In five separate advisories, the FDA said the following products do not have Certificates of Product Registration:

• Lee Kum Kee Guilin Style Chili Sauce (in foreign language)
• Tasty Vegetables with Dark Orange Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Pickled Vegetable with Boy Character and Bright Green Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Taiwan Chili sauce with Male Character and Violet Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Ji Xiang Ju Preserved Vegetable with Blue and Green Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Fermented Vegetable with Orange Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Preserved Vegetable with Mask Image and Red Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Pickled Vegetable with Boy Character and Dark Pink Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Pickled Vegetable with Violet Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Food Product with Red and Yellow Label in Plastic Jar (in foreign language)
• Huo Lala Chili Oil with Red and Orange Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Food Product with Tomato Image and Red Label in Glass Bottle (in foreign language)
• Artificial Crawfish Flavored Stir Fried Noodle (in foreign language)
• Wrigley's Food Product with Sliced Orange Image in Plastic Bottle (in foreign language)
• Wrigley's Food Product with Orange Image in Plastic Bottle (in foreign language)
• Wrigley's Food Product with Sliced Melon Image in Plastic Bottle (in foreign language)
• Taisun Mixed Congee with Okinawa Brown Sugar (in foreign language)
• Yezhi Zun Milk-Like Beverage with Cow Image in Clear PET Bottle (in foreign language)
• Only for You Pursuing Delicious Food Green Mochi-Like Food Product in Black and Green Box (in foreign language)
• Sotero Coffee 10in1 Mix Tongkat Ali, Korean Ginseng, Maca Root
• SkinConnect Glutaglow Reduced L. Glutathione Dietary Supplement
• W.L. 24 Seven Dalandan Powdered Drink Mix
• W.L. 24 Seven Pineapple Powdered Drink Mix
• Mix Ramune

“Pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9711, otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009”, the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of health products without the proper authorization is prohibited,” the FDA said.

The agency added that it cannot assure the products’ safety and quality since these have not been evaluated.

“All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute, advertise, or sell the said violative food products until CPR are issued, otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be strictly pursued,” it said.

It also reminded concerned establishments and the public to check for the FDA registration number of a product via the FDA Verification Portal.

The FDA also requested law enforcement agency and local government units “to ensure that these products are not sold or made available in the market or areas of jurisdiction.”

It also urged the Bureau of Customs to prevent the entry of unregistered imported products. —KG, GMA News