(Photo : Reuters)

The Greenbrier International, Incorporated which is doing business as Dollar Tree received a warning letter from the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for receiving over-the-counter products made by foreign manufacturers that were found to have several federal violations. These drugs contain substances that are adulterated and can harm the health of an individual.

In an article published in Healthline, emergency medicine physician from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano Glenn Hardesty told the reporters of the Healthline that US has standards when it comes to manufacturing drugs and these standards must be met. He added, that if there are any violations in the standards certain steps, like investigations, must be done to correct it before it causes a health alarm in the country. 

It was also found out that Dollar Tree had received the same warning letter from the FDA from 2016 to 2019 due to the same problem. Moreover, the manufacturers of the drugs are now placed on an import alert to prevent further damage by selling the products in the market.

Meanwhile, the FDA defines and describes an adulterated drug as contaminated with filth. It could be human or animal waste. In a study conducted by the researchers from California Department of Public Health in 2018, between 2007 and 2017 there were almost 800 dietary supplements that contained unsafe or unstudied substances that were sold in the market. 

Despite the issue revolving around Dollar Tree, they made an assurance that they are now working with the FDA to resolve the problem. The Vice President for Investor Relations of the company Randy Guiler emailed the Healthline stating that they are committed to their customers' safety and the products of the third party manufacturers are subject for testing. He added that as always, they work with the FDA to discuss matters about the standards to be met. Experts said that if there are adulterated drugs circulating around the market, the public must be informed to prevent further health complications.

Fox 8 reports that Dollar Tree has been given 15 working days to respond to the warning letter issued by the FDA. In addition, the warning letter also notes that failure of the company to respond and correct its violations may result in legal actions without further notice from the FDA.

Director of Office of Compliance in the FDA's Center for Drug and Evaluation, Donald Ashley, released a statement on Thursday amidst the adulterated drug issue that Americans deserve to have "safe and effective drugs that meet the FDA standards." He even added that the importation of drugs that do not meet the US standards and have any federal violations are simply unacceptable. Ashley also emphasized that Dollar Tree has a responsibility to ensure that they are not selling unsafe drugs to Americans. He assured that the FDA will remain vigilant from the Pharmaceutical companies who put the health of Americans at risk. 

The US Food and Drugs Administration told reporters that they are encouraging health professionals and practitioners to report any suspected adulterated products that might be acquired over-the-counter. Hence, the public is warned also to avoid for the meantime products from Hanghai Weierya Daily Chemicals Factory and Hangzhou Zhongbo Industrial Company Ltd.