KUCHING – Consumers should not assume that cosmetics, health supplements or traditional remedies are safe simply because they are marketed as "natural" or have a history of traditional use, said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) toxicologist Dr Siew Ee Ling.
She noted that while traditional knowledge provided valuable insights, product safety must be assessed based on the actual formulation, intended use and exposure conditions.
"'Natural' describes an ingredient's origin. It does not, by itself, establish a product's purity or safety under its intended conditions of use. Botanical ingredients can vary according to plant species, plant part, extraction method and concentration.
"Some may cause allergic reactions, while contamination with heavy metals, pesticide residues or harmful microorganisms is also possible," she told Bernama.
Reiterating the "Don't Guess, Test" message she shared during a recent public webinar on product safety, Siew urged consumers and manufacturers to distinguish reassuring marketing claims from scientific evidence.
She explained that everything, including water and plant extracts, was made up of chemicals. Therefore, labels such as "chemical-free" offered no scientifically meaningful assurance of safety.
"Inadequate safety assessments leave critical evidence gaps, potentially leading to allergic sensitisation, skin irritation, systemic toxicity and heightened risks for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women," she said.
Addressing digital commerce, Siew, who also serves as laboratory director of Makmal Bioserasi ALAF-UKM, cautioned that online availability or overseas shipping did not automatically guarantee product safety or independent verification, making product traceability essential.
"Consumers must look beyond absolute claims such as '100 per cent safe' or 'no side effects', checking instead for clear ingredient disclosures, valid batch identification and verifiable corporate accountability rather than relying on influencer endorsements," she said.
She added that consumers could verify product status through the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency's (NPRA) official product-search system, noting that medicines and health supplements require formal registration, while cosmetics follow an online notification system.
On the industry front, Siew encouraged small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to incorporate risk-based safety planning early in research and development to avoid costly late-stage reformulations.
"Early assessment can identify unsuitable ingredients or evidence gaps before scale-up, helping reduce avoidable reformulation and repeat testing. Safety should be part of responsible innovation from the beginning, not an afterthought," she said. –BERNAMA