Products found to contain undeclared medicines
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| The United States: FDA warns companies for promoting alternatives to street drugs: Legal Lean Syrup and Coco Loko |
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a warning letter to the marketers and distributors of Legal Lean Syrup (a drink), and Coco Loko (a “snortable” chocolate powder), for selling unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs.
An FDA laboratory analysis found that Legal Lean Syrup contained the active pharmaceutical ingredient doxylamine, which was not included in the product labeling. FDA-approved products that contain doxylamine warn against its use with alcoholic beverages and instruct people with certain medical conditions to consult a physician before use. Furthermore, the inclusion of undeclared doxylamine in Legal Lean Syrup poses a potentially serious risk to those who have already had adverse reactions to this ingredient and whose physicians have advised them to avoid it.
Coco Loko is described as a “snuff” and promoted to be “snorted” (inhaled intranasally). Intranasal administration of a powder substance can trigger spasms of the vocal cords making it difficult to speak or breathe (laryngospasm) or tightening of the muscles that line the airways in the lungs (bronchospasm) and may also induce or exacerbate asthma. The ingredients listed on the product label for Coco Loko also include taurine and guarana, neither of which have been evaluated for intranasal administration.
The warning letter explains how the claims made in the promotional materials for Legal Lean Syrup and Coco Loko demonstrate that the products are intended to be used as alternatives to illicit street drugs and that the products, as labeled and marketed, may pose safety concerns. Drug abuse is a serious public health issue, and the FDA is concerned that products like Legal Lean Syrup and Coco Loko encourage drug abuse in individuals, including minors. Street drug alternatives are products that claim to mimic the effects of recreational drugs and are intended to be used for recreational purposes to affect psychological states.
Please refer to the following website in FDA for details:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/../ucm588585.htm
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:00
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