Prevalence and Trends of Adulterants Detected in Products Sampled by Sarawak Pharmacy Enforcement Branch

Abstract

Introduction:
Traditional medicines, health foods, supplements and over-the-counter products are generally perceived as safe by the general public. However, continuous surveillance has revealed otherwise, with adulterants commonly found in these products. This is worrying as the consumption of such products may bring serious harm. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and examine the trends of adulterants found in products sampled by the Sarawak Pharmacy Enforcement Branch.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study utilised data from the Sarawak Pharmacy Enforcement Branch sampling database. All samples collected in Sarawak through intelligence activities, market surveillance, or complaints and submitted to the Department of Chemistry between January 2015 and December 2021 were included. The samples were qualitatively analysed for the presence of suspected adulterants.
Results:
A total of 633 samples were analysed, with adulterants detected in approximately one-third of most product categories: traditional medicines (n=110; 32.0%), health foods (n=77; 38.7%), over-the-counter products (n=12; 25.0%), and supplements (n=11; 35.5%). A higher proportion of adulteration was observed in the “others” category (n=7; 63.6%). Overall, 282 adulterants were identified, with sex stimulants being the most common (n=84; 29.8%). Notably, more than half of the health food products (n=51; 66.2%) contained sex stimulants. Samples obtained through intelligence-led activities were significantly more likely to be adulterated compared to other sources (n=76; 85.4%, P<0.001).
Conclusion:
Adulteration remains a significant concern, with sex stimulants being the most prevalently detected in products sampled in Sarawak. Strict surveillance is important, and efforts to raise public awareness on this issue must be strengthened. The high detection rate in samples obtained through intelligence activities highlights the importance of targeted surveillance in products available in the market.