Tainted Chinese medical products recalled

Health authorities have ordered yesterday pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to recall two more strengths of its Augmentin from shelves

The local health authority has recalled 21 batches of traditional Chinese medical products manufactured in Taiwan which were allegedly tainted with a toxic plasticiser.
According to a press statement released by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday, laboratory analysis found plasticisers DIBP and DBP in products of Sheng Foong Company Su-ao Pharmaceutical Factory, Taiwan.
DIBP and DBP have no harmful effects in the short-term but they could affect the human reproductive system in the long-term.
SSM has asked local pharmacies, drug stores, distributors and Chinese traditional medicine clinics to remove these products from the market. The health authority has also called on the public to consult with their doctor if they have doubts over using these products.
SSM pledged to continue conducting laboratory tests of drugs and medical products sold in the local market to check for plasticiser contamination.
Meanwhile the Hong Kong health authorities ordered a local manufacturer to recall all of its Chinese medical products “as they might have been contaminated”. Some of the manufacturing procedures of Luen Wing Chinese Medicine Manufacture Company “were clearly defective,” Hong Kong’s Department of Health said in a statement.
“For instance, the manufacturer admits that the same spoon was used to pour different herbal ingredients into the powdering machine and the powdering machine would not usually be properly cleansed after processing different ingredients. As such, cross-contamination would be inevitable,” the statement added.
The authorities also advised the public to “immediately stop using” any medical products supplied by Luen Wing Chinese Medicine Manufacture Company.

Augmentin removed

Health authorities have also ordered pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to recall two more strengths of its Augmentin from shelves, namely the 625mg tablet and the 1g tablet, after the company reported that they also detected plasticisers in all tablet formulations manufactured in its plant, GSK Worthing, in England.
Authorities have conducted improved surveillance following the recall of GSK’s Augmentin powder for syrup and the Augmentin antibiotic tablet (375mg) in June and July, respectively.
“According to GSK’s in-house search, the source of the plasticisers was possibly abrasion of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic tubing used to transfer powder and granules during tablet production,” said a spokesman for the Department of Health in Hong Kong.
“In view of this reported quality defect, the DH ordered extension of the recall to cover all Augmentin tablet formulations manufactured in the UK,” the spokesman said.
Hong Kong’s health department said in a statement it would “seek Department of Justice’s advice on possible legal actions on completion of our investigation”.
According to health authorities, the amount of chemicals - used to make plastics pliable - uncovered in the Augmentin tablets “are unlikely to cause safety concern if the tablets are taken according to the recommended dosage”.
Augmentin 625mg and 1g tablets are antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections.
“Patients who are currently using the drug for treatment ought to consult their attending doctors or pharmacists as soon as possible and should not just stop using the drugs by themselves,” the spokesman warned.
“Otherwise, there could be implications on both the courses of their diseases under treatment as well as antibiotic resistance development.”