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[44] 2010.08.16
Some pharmaceutical companies are still adding chemical preservatives to their general medicinal products (drinks).

 

 


#701, Seoul YWCA, 1-1, Myeongdong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul  (Postal code: 100-021)

Report Data

 

Provision Date :

August 16, 2010

Person in Charge:

Secretary-General Choi Su-gyeong

 

Head of Team Jo Jun-ha

Tel:

774-4050

 

Some pharmaceutical companies are still adding chemical preservatives to their general medicinal products (drinks).

These preservatives will be removed between 2010 and the latter half of 2011. Meanwhile, consumers should read ingredients carefully before purchasing.

 

The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations (Chairperson Kim Jae-ok) raised issues regarding chemical preservatives such as Sodium Benzoate, Methyl paraben, and Propyl paraben, which are added by ten pharmaceutical companies, like Dong-A Pharm Co., to 24 health drink products that include Bacchus, Gas Whal Myung Su-Q, and Jinnokchen. We have requested for these pharmaceutical companies to stop using chemical preservatives in their health drinks as soon as possible in order to protect citizens' health.

 

The use of chemical preservatives such as Methyl paraben and Propyl paraben for foods were already prohibited in 2008 when the side effects of such preservatives (i.e. reproductive toxicity) on one’s health were raised.

 

The Korean National Council of Consumer Organizations has continuously raised these issues since May 2010, and on July 14, 2010, we held a meeting with the concerning pharmaceutical companies and suggested to them that they remove these preservatives from their products by 2010.

Each company agreed to remove the chemicals as soon as possible after they come up with measures for conducting product safety, stability, and sensory tests and for introducing the appropriate machinery. However, their final removal dates were not that satisfactory except for companies that include Gwangdong Pharm (Gas Won Drink, By 2010), Donghwa Pharm (Gas Whal Myung Su-Q Drink, October 2010), and Yuhan Co. (Gwibo Drink, December 2010). Other companies such as Dong-A (Consumers' most favorite drink, Bacchus, by the early half of 2011), Jeil Pharm (Jinnokchen, by the latter half of 2011), Chongkundang Pharm (4 products, Sok Chung, by the latter half of 2011), and Samsung Pharm (Gas Myung Soo Drink and Guronsan-D Drink, by December 2011), plan to remove theses preservatives. (Refer to appendix).

 

Accordingly, consumers will still be exposed to general medicinal products (drinks) containing chemical preservatives in 2011.

 

The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations suggests that consumers check the ingredients of general medicinal products (drinks) until the latter half of 2011 before purchasing, as each pharmaceutical company will remove chemical preservatives from their products on different dates.

 

Appendix: A planning proposal for removing chemical preservatives by each product

 

August 16, 2010

The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations

 

 

Group Members

Green Consumers Network, Citizens Alliance for Consumer Protection of Korea, National Council of Housewives Classes, National Council of Housewives Classes, Korea Women's Association, Korea Consumer Affairs Institute, Consumers Union of Korea, Korea Consumer Education Center, National Council of YMCAs of Korea, and the YWCA of Korea

 

[Appendix] Pharmco's planning for the removal of preservatives

 

(July 26, 2010)

No

Pharm Co.

Product

Volume(ml)

Preservative

Content volume of preservatives(%)

Removal plan

Removal Date

State of Progress

1

Gwangdong

Gas Won

75

Methyl paraben

Propyl paraben

3mg(0.004%)

1.5mg(0.002%)

This product is not produced by this company. It is an OEM product, so it was excluded when changing to liquid no preservative. However, by transferring technology to OEM production company by 2010, the company plans to adopt the no preservative system or plans to remove the products if not

2

Dong-A

Bacchus

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Yes

Early half of 2011

Under safety tests and facility expansion

3

Donghwa

Gas Whal Myung Su-Q

75

Sodium Benzoate

C8H8O3

C8H8O3

60mg(0.068%)

3mg(0.004%)

1.5mg(0.002%)

Yes

October 2010

Under safety tests

Alps D

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.051%)

Yes

April 2011

Under safety tests

4

Jeil

Jinnokchen

50

Propyl paraben

SodiumBenzoate

5mg(0.01%)

30mg(0.06%)

Yes

Latter half of 2011

Inspection for improving facilities, materials, and prescriptions

5

Chongkundang

Sok Chung

75

Sodium Benzoate

45mg(0.06%)

Yes

Latter half of 2011

Under safety tests

Gas

Sok Chung

75

Sodium Benzoate

75mg(0.1%)

C8H8O3

2.6mg(0.0035%)

C8H8O3

1.8mg(0.0024%)

Jahwang

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

C8H8O3

10mg(0.01%)

Ginseng in Mountain

90

Sodium benzoate

54mg(0.06%)

6

Samsung

Gas Myung Soo

75

Sodium Benzoate

75mg(0.1%)

Yes

December 2011

Under safety tests

Guronsan D

100

Sodium Benzoate

58mg(0.058%)

Under safety tests

7

Yuhan

Gwibo Drink,

50

Sodium Benzoate

35mg(0.07%)

Yes

December 2010

Plan to submit a request for a permit change to KFDA upon the results of safety tests

8

Yungjin

(5 products)

Yungjin Guronsan Barmond

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Yes

Early half of 2011

Inspection for improving facilities, materials, and prescriptions

Yungjin Q10

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Bentamin

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Yungjin Sibjeondabotang

100

Sodium Benzoate

70mg(0.07%)

Yungjin Ssangwhatang

100

Sodium Benzoate

70mg(0.07%)

9

Ilyang

(6 products)

Lemona-D

100

No preservative

-------

Completed

No preservatives

No preservatives in 2005

Sipjeondaebotang

100

Sodium Benzoate

-------

-----

Withdrawn in January 2010

Voluntarily withdrew products

(January 13, 2010)

Taus soln

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Yes

Early half of 2011

Under safety tests

Ssanghwatang

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Yes

Early half of 2011

Under safety tests

Ssangsoltang

100

Sodium Benzoate

100mg(0.1%)

Yes

Early half of 2011

Under safety tests

Whangryuk liquid

100

Sodium Benzoate

60mg(0.06%)

Yes

Early half of 2011

Under safety tests

10

Choseon Pharm

Solpyo We Cheungsu

 

 

 

 

 

No contents of progression



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