{
  "id": 135624,
  "title": "SFA warns of three food products found with medicinal substances not permitted in food",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/sfa-warns-of-three-food-products-found-with-medicinal-substances-not",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-04T14:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sfa-warns-of-three-food-products-found-with-medicinal-substances-not-permitted-in-food"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has issued a warning about three food products containing medicinal substances that are not permitted in food. The first product, B Solution Honey (Liquid) from Malaysia, was found to contain tadalafil, a prescription medication for erectile dysfunction. Tadalafil can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and priapism, which are prolonged and painful erections. It may also cause low blood pressure in individuals on heart medications, especially those containing nitrates.\n\nThe second product, Shaio-Ge Xian Li 365 S1 Botanical Beverage Mix Barley Seedling Powder from Taiwan, was discovered to contain sennosides, a substance used to treat constipation. Sennosides can cause abdominal pain, spasms, diarrhea, and low potassium levels, leading to muscle weakness and cramps. Prolonged use may result in dehydration and a lazy bowel, where bowel muscles become overly relaxed, causing less frequent bowel movements and potentially leading to long-term constipation.\n\nThe third product, Jus Tuan Haji 1921 from Malaysia, was found to contain dexamethasone, a steroid medicine used to treat various inflammatory conditions. Side effects of dexamethasone can include blurred vision, excessive hair growth, menstrual irregularities, and Cushing's syndrome, which can cause a rounded face and weight gain around the middle of the body. Overdose symptoms include psychosis, hallucinations, and electrolyte and fluid imbalances. The SFA has removed the implicated products from sale and advised sellers to cease selling them immediately. Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them, and those who have consumed them and are concerned about their health should seek medical advice. The SFA also emphasized the importance of being cautious when purchasing food from unknown or unverified sources and encourages the public to provide any information regarding the sale and supply of these food products to the agency.",
  "summary": "They include a honey liquid product and a barley seedling powder.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}