A Singapore company, Union Yoga Ayurveda, has been fined S$15,000 after selling ayurvedic pills containing dangerously high levels of lead. The case came to light after a woman was hospitalized with anemia caused by lead poisoning.
A company representative pleaded guilty to three counts of selling medicinal products exceeding the permissible lead limit under the Medicines Act. Six additional charges were considered during sentencing.
According to court documents, a company director imported the product, Mahayograj Guggulu, by hand from India or via shipments. Between February and November 2024, the company sold hundreds of bottles to 37 customers, with two reporting adverse effects.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) received a report on October 16, 2024, from Tan Tock Seng Hospital regarding a female patient suffering from fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. She was diagnosed with anemia due to lead poisoning after purchasing the pills from the company's Kembangan branch.
HSA tests revealed lead levels thousands of times higher than the legal limit for traditional medicines. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause severe health issues, including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anemia, liver inflammation, and brain injury with acute exposure. Long-term exposure can damage the kidneys, digestive, and nervous systems.
After HSA issued a public warning, a mother reported that her daughter had low hemoglobin levels, later confirmed as high lead intoxication.
The company directors admitted to buying the pills for S$10 each and selling them for S$47, without any testing for contaminants. The prosecution requested a S$15,000 fine. In mitigation, the company representative called it a mistake and accepted the court's decision.