CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-Northern Mindanao today (July 3, 2014) received the official laboratory result of the samples from confiscated Sehat Badan earlier this year.
The FDA-Central Office found that Sehat Badan tested positive for the presence of diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Earlier this year, an advisory from FDA Acting Director General Kenneth Y. Hartigan-Go warned the public not to use Sehat Bedan, an unregistered food supplement aggressively sold online, grocery stores, malls and street vendors which was found to have drug content and ordered Food and Drug Regulations Officers nationwide to confiscate all items found in the market or in the possession of individuals.
The FDA-Central Office found that Sehat Badan tested positive for the presence of diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen and paracetamol.
FDA advisory 2014-006 dated January 15, 2014 made it clear that Sehat Badan could no longer be sold in the market for a number of violations. First, it found that the product has no English translation in the label in violation of Administrative Order 88-B. Series of 1984 (DOH-BFAD). Second, Sehat Badan is being marketed as a herbal drink that promotes and enhance general well-being and treat various diseases such asthma, urinary stones, allergy, impotence, rheumatism, toothache and ulcer. The above claims are not approved by FDA.
Last May 14, this year FDA Regional Office 10 confiscated 1,092 boxes, 67 packs and 17 sachets of Sehat Badan in the market in response to the order and submitted samples for testing. This is after consumers alerted authorities of the presence of this product without proper labeling and with absurd therapeutic claims.
More confiscation will be conducted anytime by FDA authorities in the region after the result was released today.
FDA Field Office 10 Officer-In-Charge Ms. Juliet Bingona led the confiscation of Sehat Badan, a banned food supplement found to have drug content.
Ms. Bingona in one of her inspection sorties at the Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
