Herbal Nano shower gel recalled nationwide due to containing undeclared ingredients.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) has just issued a decision to recall and destroy nationwide a batch of Herbal Nano shower gel and hygiene products. The decision was made after authorities discovered that the product contained an active ingredient not listed in the product's declaration, posing a potential health risk to consumers.

Details of the recalled product batch

The samples of the infringing products were collected and tested by the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Drug Testing. Detailed information about the batch that has been suspended from circulation and recalled includes:

• Product name:Herbal Nano Shower & Cleansing Gel - Box of 1 bottle (105g).
• Receipt number for the Announcement Form:162/22/CBMP-BD.
• Lot number:010325; Production: March 3, 2025; Expiry date: March 3, 2028.
• The organization responsible for bringing the product to market:Vinapharma Production and Trading Joint Stock Company Limited (Address: 3rd Floor, An Phu Plaza Building, 117-119 Ly Chinh Thang Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. Now: 3rd Floor, An Phu Plaza Building, 117-119 Ly Chinh Thang Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City).
• Production facility:Bio International Co., Ltd. (Address: 70 Independence Avenue, Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park, An Phu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province. Now 70 Independence Avenue, Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park, An Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City).

Unregulated active ingredient detected.

Test results confirmed that the Herbal Nano shower gel sample contained 2-Phenoxyethanol. This is a synthetic preservative commonly used in cosmetics, but it was not included in the formula registered by the company with the regulatory authorities.

According to current regulations, the presence of ingredients not listed in the product declaration is a serious violation. This prevents specialized agencies from accurately assessing the safety of a product before it is released to the market and directly infringes on consumers' right to full information.

Health risks and expert advice

Although 2-Phenoxyethanol is permitted for use in cosmetics at a maximum concentration of 1%, the lack of transparency regarding its composition makes it difficult for users with sensitive skin to choose. Dermatologists warn that this substance can cause reactions such as:

• Skin irritation, causing itching, burning, and redness.
• Contact dermatitis or localized allergic reaction.
• The risk is higher for young children and pregnant women if there is prolonged contact on sensitive skin areas.

The Drug Administration has ordered an immediate halt to the sale and use of the aforementioned product batch nationwide. The two companies involved are responsible for recalling all distributed goods and reporting the results before January 23, 2026.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using products from the infringing batch. In case of abnormal skin symptoms such as redness or persistent inflammation, they should proactively seek medical attention for timely examination and treatment.