This screenshot taken on Aug 15, 2023 shows the official website of the Consumer Council.
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog on Monday urged the government to regulate probiotic products sold in the city, after it found over 60 percent of 40 widely used probiotic products — which can cause death if improperly used — are not clearly labeled.
The Consumer Council also found that 80 percent of lipstick products surveyed contained chemical compounds that may accumulate in the body, with unknown impact on human health.
Complaints related to probiotics have grown during the past three years, increasing from 11 cases in 2021 to 24 in 2023.
The council quoted a case from the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which revealed that a premature baby who had taken a probiotic formula died of sepsis caused by Bifidobacterium.
The council urged the Hong Kong SAR government to formulate relevant standards on dietary supplements, taking note of international industry standards or regulations of different jurisdictions
While 20 samples that were surveyed claimed to be tailored to or suitable for children, parents should note that newborn babies should consume only breast milk or infant formula, as the absorption and immune functions of their gastrointestinal tract are not yet fully developed, the council said.
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The FDA currently also has not approved any probiotic products as infant medication.
Among the 40 probiotic products sampled by the council, two — Super Probiotics from PicoLabb Formulas and Procalun’s UTOKYO17 Probiotics — were labeled as containing Enterococcus faecalis, an ingredient considered by the joint FAO/WHO Working Group as unsuitable as a probiotic for humans due to safety concerns.
Twenty-five of the 40 samples failed to meet international industry voluntary labeling guidelines, the council added. These samples had no clear indication of the genus, species, or strain of the bacteria or their amount, among which G-NiiB’s Immune Kids SIM03 provided no information on the probiotics, making it hard for consumers to make informed choices.
The council urged the Hong Kong SAR government to formulate relevant standards on dietary supplements, taking note of international industry standards or regulations of different jurisdictions.
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According to Gilly Wong Fung-han, chief executive of the council, different regions and countries such as the Chinese mainland, the US, Canada, and the European Union have already drawn up relevant regulations on probiotics.
The council also reminded the public to consult professionals in choosing proper probiotics according to personal health conditions and requirements, and to consume enough fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system.
The council also released three complaints it received on medical devices, involving the sale of expired products by traders, insufficient coverage of after-sale warranty services for devices, and serious delays in the recall of components of devices with health risks
Wong said whether taking probiotic products is needed or not is a topic worth considering as several natural foods can help maintain gastrointestinal health.
In the council’s market survey on lipsticks, 24 among the 30 samples were discovered to contain mineral oil-saturated hydrocarbons mixtures that may accumulate in the body, and whose impact on human health still unknown.
Four samples contained levels exceeding 10 percent, including products from the top brands Mac, Opera, Chanel and Gucci, which did not comply with the safety limits recommended by the European Consumer Organisation.
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Additionally, five samples were found to have trace amounts of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, and seven were found to contain fragrance allergens.
Eight samples, including products from brands like Chanel, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, and Giorgio Armani, were detected with two to three allergenic heavy metals at or above the recommended level of 1mg/kg, which may affect consumers with allergy-prone skin.
Wong also pointed out that beauty and safety are not mutually exclusive as long as the manufacturer has done a good job of monitoring the production process, which some samples in this investigation had achieved.
The council also released three complaints it received on medical devices, involving the sale of expired products by traders, insufficient coverage of after-sale warranty services for devices, and serious delays in the recall of components of devices with health risks.
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As Hong Kong currently has no specific legislation regulating the manufacture, importation, distribution, supply and use of medical devices, the council suggests that consumers refer to the list in the Department of Health's Medical Device Administrative Control System, as all listed medical devices meet the relevant requirements in terms of safety, quality and performance.
As this listing system is voluntary, the council expects the government to set a stricter regulatory system to enhance the safety and reliability of medical devices in the market and provide more comprehensive protection to consumers.
