SFA warns against 7 drink products found to contain medicinal substances

SINGAPORE: Consumers are advised not to purchase or consume seven drink products after they were found to contain medicinal substances that are not allowed in food, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Thursday (Nov 14).
The seven products are:
The affected products were sold on various local e-commerce platforms and SFA said it has worked with the platforms to remove their listings. 
Warnings have also been issued to sellers to stop selling the products immediately, the agency added.
Marketed as a fibre enzyme drink, the Berryshine product made several claims, including helping to improve digestion, providing antioxidant protection, enabling slimming effects and flushing out toxins.
It was, however, found to contain sennosides – a medicinal substance that is used to relieve constipation.
Common side effects of sennosides include abdominal pain, spasms, diarrhoea and low potassium levels in the blood which can lead to muscle weakness and cramps. 
The Berryshine drink was also wrongly labelled as a product of Singapore and is made in Malaysia, SFA added. 
Touted to enhance mental clarity and marketed as pre-workout supplements, the six flavours of BUM Energy Drinks were found to contain citicoline, a medicinal substance used to treat stroke patients as well as patients with cognitive and neurological disorders. 
Side effects of citicoline include insomnia, headaches, dizziness, changes in blood pressure diarrhoea and rash. The BUM Energy Drinks are all from the United States, SFA said. 
The agency added it will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells and supplies unsafe food products that are adulterated with banned substances or potent ingredients. 
“Consumers who have purchased the implicated product should not consume it,” SFA advised.
“Those who have consumed the implicated product and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.” 
It added that consumers should seek more information before making any purchase and that they should be aware of the risks that come with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources.