Sweden finds arsenic in Chinese herbal remedy
A daily dose of a medicinal product claiming to cure toothache and fever in infants, on sale in Sweden, has been found to contain extremely high levels of arsenic by Sweden's National Food Agency.
The Chinese herbal remedy in question posed a "very serious health hazard" according to the country's food safety watchdog.
The toxic substance was found in a product called Niu-Huang Chieh-tu-pien,
which is claimed by online vendors of traditional Chinese medicine to cure
numerous conditions, including toothache, skin infections, anorexia and fever
in infants.
The product is also sold under the Indian names Divya Kaishore Guggul and
Chandraprabha Vati.
"The recommended dose provides a daily amount of inorganic arsenic which in
a worst case scenario equals half a lethal dose," said Leif Busk, a
toxicologist at Sweden's National Food Agency (Livmedelsverket).
"Consequently, anyone who takes it can be very seriously affected. It's
frightening to think there are companies selling these very hazardous
preparations."
The product was discovered and removed from shelves in Stockholm this
summer, but could still be on sale in other Swedish cities. It can also be
bought on the Internet.
Local authorities in Stockholm have issued a warning to other European
countries through an EU alert system, according to the agency.
The Local/AFP/cd
Comments
See Also
The Chinese herbal remedy in question posed a "very serious health hazard" according to the country's food safety watchdog.
The toxic substance was found in a product called Niu-Huang Chieh-tu-pien,
which is claimed by online vendors of traditional Chinese medicine to cure
numerous conditions, including toothache, skin infections, anorexia and fever
in infants.
The product is also sold under the Indian names Divya Kaishore Guggul and
Chandraprabha Vati.
"The recommended dose provides a daily amount of inorganic arsenic which in
a worst case scenario equals half a lethal dose," said Leif Busk, a
toxicologist at Sweden's National Food Agency (Livmedelsverket).
"Consequently, anyone who takes it can be very seriously affected. It's
frightening to think there are companies selling these very hazardous
preparations."
The product was discovered and removed from shelves in Stockholm this
summer, but could still be on sale in other Swedish cities. It can also be
bought on the Internet.
Local authorities in Stockholm have issued a warning to other European
countries through an EU alert system, according to the agency.
The Local/AFP/cd
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.