Hong Thai Herb Inhaler Recalled: Sold at airport kiosks, roadside stalls, and trending online, Thailand’s go-to herbal inhaler, a popular everyday pick-me-up product has been pulled from the market after tests revealed unsafe microbial levels in certain batches. The recall follows a warning from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which announced on Tuesday, October 28, that one batch of the product failed to meet microbial safety standards.

According to a three-page advisory, Batch ‘000332’ of the “Herbal Inhaler Formula 2” did not pass contamination checks. Thai Herbal Hong Thai Ltd., the company behind the inhaler, has recalled Lot 000332, about 200,000 units, after the FDA’s findings, as per The Independent.

Hong Thai Herb Inhaler Recalled

Thai Herbal Hong Thai, the maker of Hong Thai Herbal Inhaler Formula 2, has officially recalled Lot 000332 after Thailand’s FDA found microbial contamination that exceeded acceptable safety levels during routine testing. The affected batch includes 200,000 units.

Founder Mr. Teerapong Rabueathum explained that the contamination was limited to Lot 000332, which was produced on December 9, 2024, and set to expire on December 8, 2027. He clarified that all other batches remain safe for use and that reports of a full production or sales suspension were incorrect. The FDA notice, he said, only applies to the contaminated lot.

The company stated that microorganisms were found beyond the standard limits, though the FDA has yet to identify the bacterial strain or explain its specific health risks. Mr. Teerapong added that the company plans to meet with the FDA to review the test results and clarify technical details.

He mentioned that their in-house tests before the product’s registration had shown no issues. Hong Thai has begun recalling the affected batch from retailers, though only part of the stock could be retrieved since it was produced earlier.

What Is Hong Thai?

Known locally as yadom, these herbal inhalers are a staple across Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. They are small, portable tubes filled with essential oils, menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus, often used to relieve nasal congestion, dizziness, or motion sickness. Over time, these inhalers have become household essentials and tourist favourites.

Their popularity grew even further after global celebrities such as BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth, and British rapper Central Cee were seen using them, helping the product gain traction among international audiences.

What To Do With Your Recalled Hong Thai?

Customers who have inhalers from the affected batch can return them to Hong Thai Panich, 434 Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Road, Bang Phai, Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160. Refunds can also be requested by contacting 02-803-1549, 081-252-3406, 092-740-5500, or 092-740-7700.

The company has said it has now upgraded its manufacturing process, adding new quality checks and ultraviolet (UV) sterilisation at multiple stages of production to ensure future batches meet safety and hygiene standards. “We sincerely apologise to our partners for the inconvenience and to our valued customers for any concern caused,” the company said in a statement. “We remain committed to maintaining your trust and thank you for your continued support.”

Recent legal developments have highlighted the importance of advance planning for end-of-life care.

A Living Will is something every adult should consider discussing and creating at some point.

Conversations within families about individual preferences in the event of a terminal illness are an important first step, and these discussions should take place while everyone is still in good health.

Individuals may have very different views about how they wish to be treated if they develop a terminal illness or certain severe, irreversible conditions. For instance, some may not want ventilator support, while others may choose to avoid ICU care.

Some might accept ICU care but prefer not to undergo CPR. Others may prefer not to receive artificial feeding through tubes. Yet others may wish for every possible treatment to be attempted. A few may prefer to spend their final days at home.

Creating A Living Will

It should be noted that a Living Will does not impose any limitation on treatment for common medical conditions such as infections, surgery for curable illnesses, or routine hospital care.

These preferences apply only to situations such as terminal illness—for example, advanced cancer—or irreversible conditions such as a persistent vegetative state.

Creating a Living Will is now relatively straightforward. It must be signed in the presence of two witnesses and attested by a notary or a gazetted officer.

The earlier requirement of countersignature by a Judicial Magistrate has been removed to make the process easier. Templates are also available online that individuals can use as a basis for drafting their own. Before preparing one, it is helpful to discuss the pros and cons of their choices with the family doctor.

It is important to again emphasize that a Living Will is NOT about refusing all treatment, hospitalization, or ICU admission for routine medical care. Rather, it addresses only specific situations.

When such preferences are clearly documented in advance, important decisions about withholding or withdrawing treatment in select circumstances become less contentious.

Doctors and hospitals will no longer be hesitant to withhold unnecessary treatment measures in such situations, as it will already be documented in the patient’s own Living Will. Relatives also will not face the difficult decision of withholding or withdrawing futile medical treatment on behalf of their loved one.

Essentially, the Living Will protects the patient’s wishes when they are no longer able to speak for themselves.

What Happens Without A Living Will

In a terminally ill patient who is unable to communicate, the absence of a Living Will often leads to differences of opinion among family members about what the patient might have wanted.

This uncertainty frequently results in a collective decision to “do everything possible,” just to be on the safe side.

Doctors are reluctant to override the wishes of relatives, even when they believe that further treatment measures are unlikely to be beneficial.

As a result, the patient may receive prolonged medical interventions that neither improve the underlying condition nor enhance quality of life. Once started, these treatments may continue indefinitely until the patient dies naturally.

This may take months, years, or even decades, and also incur huge costs. In the absence of a Living Will, complex legal procedures are required to withdraw these treatments — even if all the relatives are convinced that they should be withdrawn.

Bolivia has reported an outbreak of mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus disease, with cases rising to more than 5,000 nationwide.

Chikungunya is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes -- the same species that spread dengue fever and Zika virus disease. As a result, the disease becomes challenging to diagnose.

The South American country's Ministry of Health, in a statement, shared that "5,371 cases of chikungunya have been registered nationwide".

The worst areas in Bolivia include

• Santa Cruz (4,500 cases)
• Cochabamba (303 cases)
• Tarija (332 cases)
• Chuquisaca (81 cases)
• La Paz (68 cases)

The Ministry informed, "joint efforts to control and manage the vector".

It further noted that an investigation is being conducted to share the results and cause of death, as well as ongoing epidemiological surveillance for all vector-borne disease.

To curb the cases, the Health Ministry noted that "it is supporting the provision of biolarvicide and insecticide for departmental and municipal actions to prevent an increase in cases".

This includes the distribution of about 1,300 liters of insecticide and biological larvicides applied with backpack sprayers, Outbreak News Today reported.

The government also urged the general public to clean weeds from yards and gardens to eliminate the vector’s resting places

Global Cases

In January, the surveillance data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported 2,881 cases of Chikungunya virus disease and no associated deaths from 11 countries in European Union this year.

The ECDC noted that the Americas have reported 2,879 cases and one associated death, with Brazil reporting the highest number of cases in 2026.

In addition to Bolivia, other countries in South America reporting chikungunya include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico.

French health authorities also reported a significant rise in chikungunya disease in Mayotte, an overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 270 confirmed cases have been recorded, Vax-Before-Travel reported.

ECDC data shows that the weekly average of cases in the last two weeks of February 2026 was around 65.

Symptoms And Prevention

There is currently no antiviral drug treatment for chikungunya. While two vaccines against chikungunya have received regulatory approval, it still lacks widespread rollout.

Common symptoms of chikungunya include:

• abrupt onset of fever
• joint and muscle pain
• headache
• nausea
• fatigue
• rash

While serious complications are rare, the elderly and children under one year old may be at risk of long-term symptoms and even death.

The ECDC advised people "to take enhanced measures to prevent mosquito bites".

India's drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), has threatened pharmaceutical firms with action for promoting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among the general public.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of medicines that help lower blood sugar, support weight loss, reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications, and can even lower the risk of early death in people with type 2 diabetes.

In an official circular, the CDSCO warned drug makers from indulging in "direct or indirect advertising" for obesity and metabolic disorders.

The regulatory body also cautioned pharma companies against campaigns using influencers, noting that any violation "could attract regulatory action".

Advertisements, which "function as a surrogate advertisement for prescription-only drugs, shall be viewed seriously and may be treated as irrational or misleading marketing practice", read the letter signed by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Rajeev Raghuvanshi.

The order comes as the CDSCO noted that drugmakers have been engaging in surrogate promotional activities, under the garb of disease awareness campaigns, and digital media outreach.

What The CDSCO Mandated

• Weight-loss drugs, specifically GLP-1 medications, must only be sold with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

• There should be no ads, whether direct or indirect, in print, electronic, digital, social media, or any other public platform intended, directly or indirectly, to promote the product to the general public.

• No GLP-1 drugs must exaggerate for therapeutic efficacy; suggest for assured or guaranteed weight loss outcome; and induce demand for pharmacological therapy

• awareness campaigns
• influencer engagement
• corporate campaigns

Rush For Generic Weight Loss Drugs

The government's advisory comes patent for semaglutide -- an active ingredient in diabetes and anti-obesity drugs, specifically Wegovy and Ozempic -- expires on March 20.

This will allow Indian pharma companies to launch cheaper generic versions, significantly increasing affordability and access for millions battling Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Major Indian drugmakers gearing up to launch their generic semglutide injection in the country in March include Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Zydus Lifesciences, Alkem Laboratories, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and MSN Laboratories.

Obesity A Chronic Metabolic Condition

The CDSCO stressed the importance of "lifestyle modification measures (diet, exercise, behavioural interventions)" in treating obesity.

"Obesity is a chronic metabolic condition requiring comprehensive management, including lifestyle interventions," the regulator said.

"Pharmaceutical therapy, where indicated, must not be projected in a manner that undermines public health initiatives promoting diet control, physical activity, and preventive healthcare," it added.

WHO Guidelines On GLP-1 drugs

Amid increasing prevalence of GLP-1 drugs, the World Health Organisation (WHO), late last year, acknowledged its role in treating obesity.

However, it warned that medications like GLP-1 alone will not solve the problem affecting more than one billion people worldwide.

The global health body also issued conditional recommendations for using these therapies as part of a comprehensive approach that includes healthy diets, regular physical activity, and support from health professionals.