The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against buying and consuming unregistered vitamin C syrups for children.
In an advisory, the FDA reported that unregistered vitamin C syrups are being sold in schools in Cagayan Valley and possibly in other regions in the country.
The FDA is investigating reports that a health product labeled as “Citrange Syrup” is being sold at P380 in cash or on installment. The product reportedly contains vitamin C, honeybee and royal jelly, but the FDA said the peddler claims that it helps cure asthma and improves memory.
The FDA said some parents were deceived into buying the product not only because of the claimed benefits but because the peddler showed a letter allegedly from the Department of Education endorsing the product.
Parents said that after their children consumed the syrup, the kids became too sleepy and lazy to attend classes.
The report is still under FDA investigation. Initial findings of the FDA Inspectorate, however, showed that Citrange vitamin syrup is not registered with the FDA. The alleged manufacturer, Linderbergh Food Products Valley in Valenzuela City, has an expired FDA License to Operate (RDII-MM-F-2454) and has stopped operating since December 2008. As an FDA-licensed food manufacturer before, it manufactured flavored drink concentrates but not Citrange vitamin syrup.
FDA warns the public and consumers, especially the children and parents, not to fall prey to the marketing schemes of unscrupulous peddlers.
For more information and inquiry, kindly email the FDA via info@fda.gov.ph. To report any unregistered health product, please email us via report@fda.gov.ph. (FDA)
