Bangkok’s favourite pocket companion – the humble herbal inhaler – is in hot water this week after Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a recall of the Hong Thai Formula 2 inhaler. The move follows failed lab tests revealing microbial contamination in one of the country’s best-selling brands.
According to the FDA’s official statement, samples of Formula 2 (registration number G 309/62, manufactured 9 December 2024, expiring December 2027) showed excessive levels of aerobic bacteria, yeast and mould, as well as traces of Clostridium spp., a potentially harmful microorganism. The product, which is widely sold in pharmacies, 7-Elevens and market stalls nationwide, has now been deemed ‘sub-standard’.
Consumers have been advised to stop using inhalers from this batch immediately while authorities investigate the factory’s production process. More than 200,000 units are thought to be affected, and legal action against the manufacturer is reportedly under review.
Thailand’s love affair with yadom – and the Lisa effect
Herbal inhalers – or yadom – are stitched into everyday Thai life. Packed with menthol, camphor and borneol, these pocket-sized scent sticks offer instant relief from dizziness, nausea or the midday slump. They’re part-wellness fix, part-fashion statement – tucked into handbags, glove compartments or the front pocket of a taxi driver’s shirt.
But in recent years, yadom has taken on a new kind of celebrity glow, thanks to Lalisa ‘Lisa’ Manobal. The Thai K-pop superstar has long-professed her love for herbal inhalers, once pulling one out mid-interview and laughing that she ‘can’t live without it’. Her casual endorsement sent sales soaring, turning humble yadom into a Gen Z must-have.
What was once the smell of grandma’s purse suddenly became a cool-girl accessory – a blend of nostalgia and trend. Fans hunted down the exact brands Lisa was seen using, including Hong Thai, now at the centre of the FDA’s contamination recall.
What to do now
If you own Hong Thai Formula 2, check the packaging. The affected batch carries the code 000332, produced on 9 December 2024 and expiring December 2027. If yours matches, bin it. The FDA recommends stopping use immediately and contacting consumer-protection hotlines for advice.
For those still craving that menthol kick, Thailand offers plenty of alternatives from the old-school Poy-Sian to boutique herbal brands found around town. Just make sure your next whiff is from a clean source.
