A disturbing event in Sacramento, California, underscores the perils associated with unchecked online shopping and the potential hazards of foreign health remedies.
A Sacramento woman lost her life in March 2024 due to acute lead poisoning following the use of a Vietnamese hemorrhoid cream, called Cao Boi Tri Cay Thau Dau, which she purchased over the internet. The botanical product, marketed as a wonder cure, was found to consist of a perilously high lead content of 4%, revealing the concealed risks of products that may seem innocuous.
The investigation by the California Department of Public Health disclosed that the cream was bought on Facebook and transported to the U.S. by a relative living in Vietnam. The exact availability of the cream within the U.S. remains uncertain, but officials have implored consumers who possess this product to immediately halt its use and undertake blood tests for lead exposure. The marketing of the cream, mainly through Vietnamese Facebook groups, complicates the regulation and tracking of its distribution.
Lead, a poisonous metal, has been outlawed in the U.S. in multiple contexts for a long time. However, it continues to be found in imported goods from overseas, from apple sauce and ground cinnamon to dark chocolate and household commodities like water bottles and sippy cups. This incident of poisoning aligns with a worrisome pattern noticed in the first quarter of this year, with several consumer warnings and product recalls due to lead contamination, including children’s toys and jewelry.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes the importance of caution when buying medicines and health remedies online. Their recommendations include verifying that online pharmacies necessitate a doctor’s prescription, provide a U.S. physical address and phone number, employ a licensed pharmacist, and have licensure from a state board of pharmacy. On the other hand, indications of unsafe online pharmacies include the omission of prescription requirements, no licensure in the U.S., and offering products that arrive in substandard condition or are notably cheaper than market rates.
The CDC has recorded the existence of lead in products beyond paint, including toys, jewelry, candies, and traditional home remedies imported from countries such as Vietnam, India, and Syria. Advocacy groups are sounding the alarm, with a study by Pure Earth revealing excessive lead levels in 18% of more than 5,000 consumer and food products from 25 countries. “Lead pollution knows no boundaries,” said Richard Fuller, president of Pure Earth, highlighting the global difficulty of dealing with lead contamination.
The health consequences of lead exposure are significant, with chronic exposure linked to developmental issues in children, brain damage, and a range of adult health problems such as kidney dysfunction and hypertension. Most people do not show immediate symptoms, which makes lead poisoning especially insidious.
