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The Department of Health (DH) today (November 4) urged members of the public not to buy or use a proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) called "Cousedin Cold & Cough Relief Cap", as it was found to exceed the permitted microbial limit.
The product is manufactured by a local licensed pCm manufacturer, Merika Medicine Factory Limited, and is indicated for cough relief.
Initially, on October 29, the Macao Health Bureau (MHB) detected excessive amounts of microorganisms in "Cousedin Cold & Cough Relief Cap" (batch number: 724345) during a surveillance exercise. The Bureau then instructed the local wholesaler to initiate a recall and also notified DH about the findings.
Upon receiving the notification, DH mounted an investigation immediately. It was revealed that the concerned batch was manufactured in 2008 and was for export to Macao only.
During inspection and examination of the plant, DH obtained samples of different batches of the same product along with other products made by the manufacturer for laboratory analyses. Results available today showed that the only other batch of "Cousedin Cold & Cough Relief Cap" ever produced (batch no. 927111) also exceeded the microbial limit. So far, no report has been received of consumers feeling unwell after having taken the product.
Records indicated that there were a total of 2, 230 boxes in the affected batch, of which 853 had been sent to the Hong Kong market only. While investigation will continue to ascertain the cause of contamination, DH has instructed the manufacturer to recall all of the "Cousedin Cold & Cough Relief Cap" (batch no. 927111) still in the local market. The manufacturer has already set up a hotline (2691 6631) to answer public enquiries about the recall.
Consumers may also choose to submit the recalled products to DH's Chinese Medicines Section at 2/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours or to destroy them before disposal.
A DH spokesman remarked that the MHB has also been notified. He reminded any member of the public who has the product in hand to stop using it immediately and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they feel unwell.
Ends/Thursday, November 4, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:55
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