Many samples of herbal inhaler products have proved to be unsafe, and weak and elderly people are at risk, according to health authorities.
The Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday that it collected samples of many brands of herbal inhalers for testing after online reports in May of fungal contamination found in herbal inhalers which could harm users' lungs.
Tests on samples showed contamination in herbal inhaler “Hong Thai Formula 2” and Chama Herbs herbal inhaler.
“The FDA thus informed the public that the herbal inhalers of both brands are substandard herbal products and will gradually make more announcements if products of other brands are proved with unsafe levels of microbial contamination,” the FDA secretary-general said.
Unsafe levels of contamination with microbes, fungus, yeast and bacteria could be especially harmful to the health of people with immunodeficiency and for elderly people.
The Department of Medical Sciences said that in 2025 the department received 54 samples of inhalers for examination and 39 of them proved to be substandard.
