The Department of Health in Victoria (VicHealth), Australia, has been alerted to the presence of certain Ayurvedic medicines being sold in grocery stores in Victoria, which contain potentially harmful ingredients, including lead. These ingredients are classified as scheduled poisons and are prohibited for supply and use in Australia due to their potential risks to human health, as stated by VicHealth.
The Ayurvedic medications for sale in various grocery stores in Victoria have been found to contain ingredients like Azadirachta indica (also known as “neem” or “Veppilai”) and Acorus calamus (also identified as “Ghodbach,” “Vacha,” “Vasambu,” or “Vat Jata”), which are among the scheduled poisons. Additionally, some products may indicate the presence of heavy metals.
Individuals taking Ayurvedic medicines purchased from overseas or bought in Victoria without an ‘AUST R’ or ‘AUST L’ number on the packaging may be at risk. These numbers signify approval for supply by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. VicHealth advises that those using Ayurvedic medicines without these numbers should immediately discontinue consumption, especially vulnerable groups like children or pregnant women.
It’s crucial to be cautious when purchasing complementary medicines online, from overseas sources, or from non-approved retailers in grocery stores. Medicines not listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) may not meet Australian safety and quality standards, leading to potential contamination, illegal ingredients, or incorrect amounts of active substances, which can have severe health implications.
If considering online purchases, individuals should carefully assess the risks involved and ensure that the product is genuine and safe. Some websites may display fake Australian addresses and business identifiers (ABN or ACN). Therefore, it’s essential to verify all business identifiers through official sources like the Australian Business Register (ABR) or the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
Be wary of online retailers selling non-ARTG listed, expired, low-quality, counterfeit, or hazardous medicines to protect your health and well-being.
