Most probiotics sold substandard quality standardsndards

HCM CITY — Nearly 50 per cent of probiotic products available in the domestic market do not meet quality standards, experts say.

Dr Pham Hung Van from the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy's probiotics department said a recent testing of products in the domestic market showed probiotic content was lower than the amount stated on the label.

Some of the products contain probiotic strains that could cause vomiting and diarrhoea, Van said, adding that there were even some that do not include any probiotic ferment.

Early this month the Pharmaceutical Management Department ordered the recall of two probiotic products because they failed to meet quality standards – the Biolac powder and the same drug in 500g capsule form.

Currently, the use of probiotic products is very popular in Viet Nam, many drugstore sales clerks said.

Doctor usually prescribe them for patients with digestive disorder, indigestion or those who have to consume a lot of antibiotics, they said.

People also buy these products out of habit, whenever they feel uncomfortable or have a digestive disorder, without waiting for a doctor to prescribe them, the clerks said.

Word of mouth advertising was another factor increasing the popularity of probiotic products, they added.
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