Used in Maldives, Thai-FDA flags contaminated batch of Hong Thai inhalers

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health warning after a batch of Hong Thai Formula 2 herbal inhalers failed microbial safety tests and was found to be contaminated.

In a statement released Monday, the FDA confirmed that laboratory tests by the Department of Medical Sciences revealed excessive levels of:

• Total aerobic microbial count

• Combined yeasts and mold count

• Clostridium spp., a bacteria that can cause serious infections

The affected batch, production number 000332, was manufactured on December 9, 2024, and carries an expiry date of December 8, 2027. It was produced at the Hong Thai Commercial Herbal Products facility and registered under G 309/62, a license issued under Thailand’s 2021 herbal product standards.

The FDA has classified the product as substandard and urged consumers to avoid purchasing or using the inhalers currently circulating in the market. The manufacturer has voluntarily recalled 200,000 units and is coordinating with authorities to destroy the batch.

Hong Thai Herbal has apologized publicly and announced upgrades to its production process, including UV sterilization and stricter quality control. Legal penalties for producing or selling substandard herbal products in Thailand include fines up to 200,000 baht and imprisonment of up to two years.