APR pushes back on Sudan Red detection report

'No record of supplying product to cited retailer'

A test result notification showing that Sudan Red and other problematic ingredients were not detected in Medicube products during testing conducted in Singapore at the request of the Health Sciences Authority last month. [APR Medicube]
A test result notification showing that Sudan Red and other problematic ingredients were not detected in Medicube products during testing conducted in Singapore at the request of the Health Sciences Authority last month. [APR Medicube]

APR on Thursday rebuffed reports that Singapore's Health Sciences Authority had detected trace amounts of Sudan Red in certain batches of Medicube's PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.

According to APR, the batch numbers in which the HSA said it found trace Sudan Red are "2E122I.2E117I" and "2E191G.2E193G." Sudan Red is an industrial synthetic dye used to produce red coloring and is not permitted in cosmetics in Singapore.

APR said its official shipping and export records show no evidence that products bearing those batch numbers were ever exported to Singapore. The company also said it has no record of supplying or exporting products to Venus Beauty, the retailer cited as the source of the samples the HSA tested.

APR said it has yet to confirm whether the products in question are genuine, and that even if they are, further investigation is needed to determine how they came to be distributed through a local Singapore retailer.

At the HSA's request, APR conducted separate product testing in Singapore on Aug. 3, and Sudan Red was not detected. The company said it received notification from the HSA on Thursday that the sales and supply suspension on the product had been lifted.

APR said it will continue to prioritize product quality and safety, closely monitoring relevant test results and distribution records, and will maintain ongoing communication with the relevant authorities to take any necessary action.

"Since this issue was raised, we have put consumer safety first — proactively suspending sales across Asia and faithfully cooperating with the relevant authorities," an APR official said. "In Singapore, we conducted product testing at an HSA-accredited laboratory at the authority's request, and the sales and supply suspension was lifted after the results came back clear."


spa@heraldcorp.com