Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday cautioned the public about the growing dangers of unregulated food supplements, many of which are marketed with therapeutic claims despite lacking approval from health authorities.
Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, issued the warning ahead of a legislative inquiry into the sale and distribution of unregistered supplements and vitamins. She emphasized that medicines and dietary products must first secure clearance from the Food and Drug Administration before being sold.
“Kapag po hindi dumaan muna sa pagsisiyasat ng regulatory agency, doon tumitindi yung panganib na may mga substances na lamang hindi nakakatulong, kundi makasasama sa kalusugan ng ating publiko, pati sa ating mga kabataan o mga bata ay makapasok at lumaganap dito sa ating merkado,” she said.
The senator, who filed Senate Resolution No. 194 to investigate the issue, noted that health experts have flagged several products sold online as posing “serious health risks, including kidney damage and exposure to harmful substances.”
She cited surveys showing that nine in ten Filipinos take supplements, often without medical consultation, and increasingly purchase them from digital platforms with little verification of safety or authenticity.
“The proliferation of unregulated online health products highlights the urgent need to review and strengthen regulatory safeguards to protect public health and consumer rights,” Hontiveros stressed.
She added, “Minded po ang Senado bilang lehislatura na dapat magkaroon ng regulasyon sa pamamagitan ng batas sa ganitong mga substances.”
The Senate inquiry is expected to examine the risks posed by unregulated supplements and explore measures to ensure consumer protection.