BANGKOK — The founder of Hong Thai Herbal Co., Ltd., the maker of Thailand’s best-known inhaler brand, said he feels “discouraged but determined to fight on” after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a major product recall and police raided several of the company’s factories this week.
The crisis began when the FDA announced on October 29 that microbial contamination was found in batch No. 332 of the company’s “Herbal Inhaler Formula 2,” prompting a recall of 200,000 items nationwide.
A day later, police and FDA officials raided several production sites, declaring three of them illegal factories. The company’s founder, Theerapong Rabueathum, said the events destroyed a business he had spent two decades building in just two days.
Theerapong said, he personally brought the affected batch to the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) for radiation sterilization. Test results showed zero microbial counts, indicating the products posed no health risk to consumers, he said.
“From now on, every single Hong Thai product will be sterilized at TINT to ensure 100% safety and to meet international standards,” he added.
However, he said the labeling and packaging site in the Phutthamonthon Sai 3 area was classified as an illegal factory because the company had not yet completed its licensing process.
According to Theerapong, the company had rented additional space and purchased new labeling machines to handle a sudden surge in orders. Meanwhile, it was building a new factory in Phutthamonthon Sai 4, constructed according to FDA-approved blueprints. But before it could obtain the license, the company had to wait for approval from the Samut Sakhon Provincial Public Health Office, which reportedly advised them to finish installing machinery first, causing delays.
“This situation has spiraled out of control and caused immeasurable damage,” Theerapong said. “We’ve been trying to solve the problems step by step. The business we built over 20 years has been ruined in just two days. It’s not just our reputation that’s been damaged, but also Thailand’s.”
He said that running a business involves more than having a license — it’s about maintaining quality that benefits consumers.
“Thai people have supported Hong Thai for years. Now it’s our duty to give back,” he said.
Theerapong insisted the allegations were premature, claiming officials had not yet verified whether the seized items were truly illegal.
“The products are not counterfeit,” he said. “The formula and quality are ours. The only issue is that labeling and bulk packaging were done at another clean, but not yet licensed, facility.”
He said the company would wait to see whether authorities would “give us a second chance or crush us completely,” adding that only 10% of their customers still trust the brand.
“I never intended to do anything wrong, but circumstances forced us,” he said. “We’re not being defiant. We’re trying to fix the problem and take responsibility.”
Theerapong said the experience has left him exhausted and heartbroken.
“I feel truly discouraged,” he said. “Why not just warn us and let us correct our mistakes instead of destroying us completely?”
Still, he vowed to keep going.
“Do I want to quit? I admit I feel tired and stressed,” he said. “But every morning, I wake up and feel a bit lighter. My mind tells me to keep working. I’ve never taken a day off. It’s hard, but I’m happy — so I don’t feel like stopping.”
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