Beware of adulterated herbal products

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Consumers need to be cautious when buying imported herbal products as they could be adulterated.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said these imported herbal products would initially comply with local regulations.
However, once they entered the market, the manufacturers would begin to adulterate them.
"Some of the supplements, for instance, were found to contain bacteria," he said after officiating a seminar on hepatitis awareness and protection of the liver.
However, he was unable to say how many supplements had been found to be adulterated.
He added the ministry’s enforcement division had also found cases involving herbal slimming products targeted at the Chinese market.
"In a raid conducted in 2005, RM26 million worth of adulterated imported products were confiscated, including herbal supplements and cosmetic products," he said.
He tressed that those promoting herbal supplements should not make unproven claims that they could cure specific illnesses.
"These products have not undergone clinical trials and, therefore, they cannot make such claims."