WARNING: These popular ginger patches are not FDA-registered

While no injuries have been confirmed, the FDA warns that the product could cause health risks or harm.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against buying or using Farejiangtie, an unregistered drug product that lacks the agency’s authorization, raising concerns about medicines being sold through online marketplaces.

Farejiangtie is marketed as a ginger-based pain-relief patch applied directly to the skin. Online sellers promote it for muscle aches, joint pain, back pain, neck stiffness, and general body discomfort, offering an alternative to pain-relief creams or oral medication. However, the product’s lack of FDA registration means the agency cannot assure consumers of its quality, safety, or efficacy.

In FDA Advisory No. 2026-1397, the agency said its post-marketing surveillance activities found that the product had not undergone the required registration process and did not have a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR).

Without that authorization, the FDA said it could not assure consumers of the product’s quality, safety, or efficacy.

Farejiangtie is also being sold on e-commerce platforms, with Shopee listings offering the product for as low as ₱49, making it accessible to consumers who may not be aware of the FDA warning.

The product appears in multiple Shopee listings, where consumers may encounter it through search results and seller pages without knowing whether it has been reviewed and authorized by regulators.

The FDA cautioned that using the product could expose consumers to potential health risks, including injury or harm. The advisory did not specify a particular adverse reaction or identify a confirmed case of injury linked to Farejiangtie.

Under Republic Act No. 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, selling, distributing, promoting, or advertising health products without the required authorization is prohibited.

The FDA said businesses are prohibited from manufacturing, importing, selling, distributing, or promoting unauthorized health products. Establishments that continue to sell Farejiangtie could face regulatory action and sanctions.

Consumers can verify a medicine’s registration through the FDA’s Verification Portal and check the agency’s list of unregistered health products. Shopee also advises users to report potentially illegal or non-compliant listings through the app’s “Report this product” feature.

The FDA urged anyone who experiences a suspected adverse drug reaction to report it through its online reporting form. It also called on local governments and law enforcement agencies to help prevent the product’s sale in their respective areas.

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