Indonesia's drug regulator found herbal products containing undisclosed prescription drugs in three separate sweeps this year, the latest uncovering 12 adulterated products in April.
The agency, known as BPOM, announced the April findings on June 29 through Taruna Ikrar, its head. All products are being pulled from shelves and destroyed.
The core problem is deceptive labeling. Consumers who choose herbal products specifically to avoid pharmaceutical drugs are instead swallowing powerful medications at uncontrolled doses without medical supervision.
Herbal medicines (OBA, in Indonesian regulation) encompass jamu, standardized herbal remedies, and phytopharmaceuticals. The law forbids adding synthetic pharmaceutical ingredients (BKO). When manufacturers mix in drugs, the product feels more potent than pure herbs. That perceived potency is the selling point—and the trap.
Why herbal products with hidden drugs are more dangerous than prescription medicines
There are no listed doses, no doctor's prescription, and no warning labels. Sildenafil citrate, used for erectile dysfunction, can trigger sudden blood pressure drops, heart attacks, and liver and kidney damage without medical monitoring. Official drugs have standardized doses supervised by doctors. Adulterated herbal products deliver the same active ingredients in arbitrary amounts.
"Why is it dangerous? Because consumers believe what they're taking is natural. But this is deception: it contains undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients and is risky without medical supervision," Ikrar said.
Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid found in products claiming to ease breathing problems, can delay proper treatment and worsen certain conditions. Excess hidden paracetamol in pain-relief products accumulates in the liver without the consumer's knowledge. Miconazole and chlorpheniramine add unexpected drug exposure.
Twelve products and what they're hiding
The April list announced by Ikrar included S Sepuluh, Remurat 001, Jamu Asam Urat Flu Tulang, Kopi Badak Juooss, Kopi Joss, Kenzo, Red Bull, Codryceps Zhi Ke Bao Capsules, Herbal Slim, Sapu Jagat, Miao Jia Zu Dai Fu Yi Jun Ru Gao, and Vall-Boon 606 Antacid Tablets.
Among them are names familiar in small shops and markets: Kopi Joss, Kopi Badak Juooss, Red Bull. All three are counterfeits capitalizing on well-known brands to gain consumer trust. Synthetic ingredients detected across products include sildenafil citrate, paracetamol, caffeine, miconazole, famotidine, dexamethasone, and chlorpheniramine.
Male stamina products dominated the findings, with sildenafil citrate as the most common ingredient. Sildenafil is the active component of prescription medications like Viagra and requires a doctor's prescription to use.
Official distribution licenses don't guarantee safety: a rarely discussed gap
BPOM documented three waves of adulterated herbal products throughout 2026: 24 in early year, 22 in the March period, and 12 in April. Male stamina products led each wave.
From the March findings came a figure largely unreported: 10 of the 22 problematic products already held official BPOM distribution licenses. The remaining 12 circulated without licenses or with fake ones. This means obtaining initial regulatory approval doesn't ensure a product stays safe; manufacturers can add drugs to the formula after approval.
Post-approval oversight carries the same burden as initial registration, and that pressure is mounting as sellers easily switch accounts on e-commerce platforms and social media whenever one link gets blocked.
Manufacturers face charges under articles 435, 138(2), and 138(3) of Indonesia's 2023 Health Law: up to 12 years in prison and/or fines up to 5 billion rupiah. "BPOM will tolerate no violations of this kind," Ikrar said.
How to check products you have
BPOM recommends the "CLIK" method before buying: inspect the Casing (intact, not damaged), read the Label (ingredients, producer name and address), check the License on cekbpom.pom.go.id or the BPOM Mobile app, and verify the expiration date.
Because even licensed products can contain hidden drugs, watch for claims of instant effects in products sold as herbal remedies, especially for stamina or muscle pain. Report suspicious products to HALOBPOM at 1500533 or your nearest BPOM local office.
For safe stamina, evidence still points to an active lifestyle, including understanding how much exercise truly supports heart health.
