The FDA recently warned healthcare professionals and parents not to use or purchase “Bo Ying compound.” This powdered product is manufactured by Eu Yan Sang (Hong Kong) Ltd. and is marketed for the treatment of various conditions in infants and children, such as influenza, fever, and nasal discharge. It is sold both in retail outlets and online.

The FDA warning was issued after the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene found that the product contained “high levels of lead.” The FDA has also received a “report of lead poisoning in an 18-month-old child who was given [Bo Ying compound].” According to the warning, “[e]xposure to lead can cause serious damage to the central nervous system, the kidneys, and the immune system.” Children exposed to even low levels of lead could suffer from “impaired cognitive function.”

Anyone who has administered this product to a child is advised to “immediately consult a healthcare professional.”

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