'The business built over 20 years ruined in 2 days': Hong Thai founder heartbroken after major product recall

On Oct. 28, Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an announcement regarding Thai Swan Brand herbal inhalers, also known as "Hong Thai", after the product failed to meet safety standards.

According to Khaosod English, the FDA revealed two days later that microbial contamination was found in batch No. 332 of the company's "Herbal Inhaler Formula 2", leading to a nationwide recall of 200,000 units.

The next day, several of the company's production facilities were raided by the police and FDA officials.

Three were subsequently classified as illegal factories.

The company's founder, Theerapong Rabueathum, also known as "Keng", said the experience has left him exhausted and heartbroken.

Personally brought the affected batch for radiation sterilisation

According to Keng, as reported in Khaosod English, he had personally delivered the affected batch of inhalers to the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) for radiation sterilisation.

Test results reportedly showed zero microbial counts, which indicated that the products posed no health risks to consumers.

"From now on, every single Hong Thai product will be sterilised at TINT to ensure 100 per cent safety and to meet international standards," he said.

Factory classified as "illegal" as licensing process incomplete

Keng explained that the labelling and packaging site in the Phutthamonthon Sai 3 area was deemed illegal only because its licensing process had yet to be completed, Khaosod English reported.

He said that the company had rented extra space and installed new labelling machines in order to handle a sudden surge in demand.

At the same time, a new factory, constructed according to FDA-approved blueprints, was being built in Phutthamonthon Sai 4.

However, it was still awaiting approval from the Samut Sakhon Provincial Public Health Office before obtaining the licence.

The delay, he said, was caused by the office's instruction to finish the installation of machinery first.

"It's not just our reputation that's been damaged, but also Thailand's"

"This situation has spiralled out of control and caused immeasurable damage," Keng said.

"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.”

According to Khaosod English, Keng said that though a company might have all the proper licences and documents, what really matters is maintaining the quality of its products for consumers.

"Thai people have supported Hong Thai for years," he said. "Now it's our duty to give back."

He also maintained that the allegations were premature, claiming that authorities had yet to verify whether the seized products were truly illegal.

"These products are not counterfeit," he said. "The only issue is that labelling and bulk packaging were done at another clean, but not yet licensed, facility."

Keng stated the company is in limbo and is waiting to see whether authorities would "give [them] a second chance or crush [them] completely".

He added that only 10 per cent 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.”

Keng admitted that the experience has left him exhausted and heartbroken, and deeply discouraged.

"Why not just warn us and let us correct our mistakes instead of destroying us completely?"

Despite this, however, he remains determined to continue.

“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.”

Top photos via Matichon and FDA Thai Facebook