The Department of Health has ordered the recall of a batch of Chinese herb Rhizoma Atractylodis following a boy's poisoning.

The nine-year-old fell ill after taking a formulation prescribed by a Chinese medicine practitioner and obtained from a herbal shop in Chai Wan on June 10. He was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 13 and has recovered.

Investigations found the Rhizoma Atractylodis herbs used had been contaminated. It was imported from the Mainland by Hip Shing Hong Medicine. The batch number of the herb concerned is 060608. It is a commonly used herb and is not toxic.

Ensuring herb quality

Practitioners and traders have been reminded to exercise caution in ensuring the quality of herbal medicines and to be vigilant against comtamination in the process of purchase, inspection, acceptance, distribution, storage and dispensation.

Retailers who have purchased the herb from this wholesaler should stop selling it.

Consumers should seek advice from their Chinese medicine practitioners when in doubt. They should stop taking the Chinese medicines and seek medical advice if they fall ill.