‘Tainted’ powder a headache for GSK

Johannesburg - Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has launched a probe following a complaint about Grand-Pa Headache Powders that could have been tampered with.

This comes after an Eldorado Park man found what he called “strange looking powder” in the headache sachets he purchased from a local tuck shop.

GSK South Africa consumer healthcare general manager Dave Thomas on Friday confirmed the firm received a grievance through its consumer complaint line.

He added this was not the first time it had to investigate complaints of this nature.

“As a leading global healthcare company, GSK has robust procedures to respond to consumer-quality concerns, including those of suspected counterfeit product.

“This matter is being thoroughly investigated and we expect to have a full assessment completed within 30 days of the complaint,” he said.

According to Cassey Brad Hugo, he purchased three single sachets from a tuck shop in Eldorado Park last week.

The freelance sound engineer said he had battled with a migraine and bought the powders for relief.

When he arrived home from the shop he opened one of the sachets, which he said looked odd.

“It looked strange but I thought it was because I was tired and had a headache so I emptied it in my mouth anyway.” Instead of a sour taste, Hugo said the powder he had used many times before tasted different.

“Those who know what Grandpa tastes like will tell you it is the most bitter thing you can ever taste but this wasn’t bitter at all. It almost didn’t have a taste. I rolled it around in my mouth and it had a granular feel.

“It was not the smooth powdery feel I’m used to. It was crystal-like. I immediately spat it out,” Hugo said.

He said he then checked the other sachets and realised the contents also appeared to look different.

“I’m not sure if Grand-Pa Headache Powders released ‘the new and improved’ Grand-Pa Lite, but that wasn’t the Grand-Pa I know.

“I don’t know if it was mixed with dangerous substances. These are sold at tuck shops in sachets that can be easily opened because of the packaging, which makes it easy to tamper with,” he said.

The suspect powders were delivered to GSK early this week to be tested.

After posting on Facebook about his encounter, Hugo’s status was shared a 1 000 times with many people claiming they too have had similar experiences after buying sachets that had a strange taste and were grainy.

Thomas, meanwhile, said if the sachet taken for testing is identified as a counterfeit product, the company would take necessary measures and alert the authorities to ensure the product is confiscated.

noni.mokati@inl.co.za

Saturday Star