BO YING COMPOUND HAS RISK OF LEAD POISONING

FROM DEPT. OF HEALTH

Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers that a product known as “Bo Ying Compound” may contain excessive amounts of lead. Bo Ying Compound is labeled for the treatment of influenza (flu), fever, sneezing, and nasal discharge in infants and children. The product is labeled in Chinese and English and is found in stores that serve the Asian community, and online.

The Rockland County Department of Health is asking parents and caregivers who have given this product to their children to:

•    stop using it and discard it

•    call your child’s doctor, they may want your child to have a blood test

“The only way to tell if your child has lead poisoning is with a blood test. Health risks from lead poisoning include lower IQ, growth problems, behavior problems, anemia, and hearing loss,” said Dr. Ruppert.

Some products that come from other countries such as toys, jewelry, and other children’s products may contain a lead risk to children. For information about items that have been recalled because they contain lead, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commissions website: www.cpsc.gov. In addition, medicine, spices, cosmetics and foods found in neighborhood stores or brought back by friends or family member who have been traveling may also contain lead. For more information about these products, download the pamphlet, Beware of Lead at www.health.ny.gov/publications/6517.pdf.