BPOM Finds 41 Herbal Medicines Containing BKO, Here are 10 of the Bestselling Illegal Products

Kompas.com – Products made from natural ingredients, often referred to as herbal products, are often considered safer because they are derived from natural sources.

However, the latest findings from the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) show that not all of these products are actually safe.

The head of BPOM, Prof. Dr. Taruna Ikrar, M.Biomed., Ph.D., emphasised that the addition of chemical drugs to herbal products is a serious violation and also endangers public health.

“Products that are claimed to be traditional medicines or herbal remedies, in fact, contain active pharmaceutical ingredients that should be used under medical supervision. This is a legal violation as well as a real threat to public health,” he said, as quoted from an official statement on the BPOM website.

This finding serves as a warning that even products labelled as “herbal” can still be risky if they do not undergo proper supervision.

Based on the results of intensive monitoring from November to December 2025, BPOM found 41 OBA (Over-the-Counter) products containing BKO.

Overall, throughout 2025, there were 206 products found to contain chemical drugs from 11,654 samples tested.

These substances should not be added to herbal products because they can cause serious side effects, especially if consumed without a clear dosage and indication.

Taruna said that the use of BKO in herbal products can cause various health problems, ranging from heart problems, mental disorders, liver and kidney damage, to the risk of death.

In some cases, consumers are not aware that the products they are consuming contain harmful chemicals because they are not clearly listed on the label.

This list is a separate finding from the product monitoring results, but it shows that many illegal products are still circulating and in demand by the public.

These products are recorded to have sold 631,881 units, with the most sales coming from Cilacap Regency. BPOM found that these products contained paracetamol and caffeine.