Solar Therapy for Shampoos and Powders: MedPlus Varthur’s Innovation – Consumer Health at Stake

Bengaluru, Varthur Main Road: In what seems more like an experiment than retail practice, two MedPlus outlets in Varthur have been spotted displaying products such as shampoos, chocolate powders, body soaps, and toilet cleaners directly under the scorching sun outside their stores. While soaps and cleaners may survive a few hours in the heat, experts caution that food-related items and health supplements exposed to direct sunlight risk losing their quality, effectiveness, and safety. The situation raises an even more alarming question: what if medicines are also being kept in similar conditions? Pharmaceutical manufacturers are clear on this point — most medicines and consumables must be stored in a “cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.” Exposing them to high temperatures may reduce potency or cause chemical changes, making them less effective or even unsafe for consumers. Public health advocates note that such practices could amount to non-compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and FSSAI storage regulations, both of which exist to safeguard consumer safety. With temperatures soaring in Bengaluru, the practice of keeping health-related products outdoors raises a troubling question for regulators and MedPlus management alike: Is this careless display of goods a marketing gimmick, or an unacceptable risk to consumer health?