Doctors refute false claim that powdered milk product can enhance breast size
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on June 30, 2023 at 08:10
- Updated on August 2, 2023 at 08:22
- 3 min read
- By Lucille SODIPE, Faith BROWN, AFP Philippines
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"Goodbye flat, saggy breasts. Get large, full, toned breasts. No operation, no pain, no down time," reads the Tagalog-language caption of a video shared on Facebook on June 7, 2023.
The 33-second clip promotes Eva Sure, a powdered milk drink, and purports to show before and after shots of a woman who has taken the drink.
"For only two cups of milk a day, we promise to increase breast size by 5 - 8 cm. Augmentation of sagging breasts after 14 days," the post says.
It was shared on a page whose profile picture shows a container of Eva Sure alongside a certificate of product registration from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Similar claims about Eva Sure were shared in adverts for the product on Facebook here and here, and on a blog site.
Comments on the posts suggest social media users were interested in purchasing the product.
"How do I order?" asked one user.
Another wrote: "How much is the product?"
Not effective
But doctors who spoke to AFP said breasts cannot be enlarged by simply drinking milk.
Dr James Joaquino, a plastic surgeon based in Manila, told AFP on June 23 the only way to effectively enlarge breasts is through surgery (archived link).
According to his clinic's website, the procedure "using implants or fat transfer may help restore the size and shape of breasts that are impacted by aging and breastfeeding" (archived link).
Dr Marianne Austria, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at St. Clare's Medical Center in Makati City, also told AFP on June 29 surgery is the "definitive" way to enlarge breasts (archived link).
"Milk consumption as a means to increase breast size is not a viable mode of treatment. Even vitamin supplements will not increase breast size," she added.
According to an article published by Mayo Clinic, breast enhancement supplements "aren't likely to work" and breast enlargement may only be a side effect of certain prescription drugs, like hormone therapy or birth control pills (archived link).
Doctored FDA certificate
A spokesperson for the FDA's Food Safety Unit told AFP that Eva Sure was not registered with their office, as of June 29.
"You are advised not to consume unregistered food products as these may pose potential risks, as they have not undergone proper testing and evaluation," they said.
Eva Sure's purported certificate of product registration -- featured in the false post -- says it was issued to the "GLOMEDI GROUP".
But a check of the product registration number found the certificate was in fact issued to a company called "CHEMAG TRADING CORP" for an iced tea drink -- not a powdered milk drink.
Below is a screenshot comparison of the certificate featured in the false posts (left) and the FDA's verification portal (right) with the same registration number highlighted by AFP:
The registration can be viewed on the FDA's verification portal here (archived link).
A review of the company's website found the iced tea product is not marketed for breast enlargement (archived link).
August 2, 2023 This story was updated to add a comment from an FDA spokesperson, who said that Eva Sure was not registered with the agency.
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