Medicube Sudan Red Controversy: Affected Batch Numbers, Singapore Recall & What We Know Now
Updated: September 16, 2026
The controversy surrounding Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream has developed significantly since Hong Kong authorities first reported detecting Sudan Red in a product sample in July 2026.
There is now a second official regulatory finding.
On August 28, 2026, Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that testing had detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in two samples of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream sold by a Singapore retailer.
For the first time, specific affected batch numbers have been publicly identified.
However, the situation is more complicated than simply saying that "Medicube contains Sudan Red."
Singapore tested samples obtained from three companies. While two samples from one retailer tested positive, samples submitted by the other two companies—including Medicube's Singapore entity, APR SG—tested negative.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong still has not publicly identified the batch number of the sample that originally triggered the controversy.
So, what exactly has been confirmed? Which Medicube batches are affected? Are other batches safe? Could unauthorized distribution or counterfeit products be involved?
Here is the latest information.
Quick Update: What Has Changed?
When this controversy first emerged in July, Hong Kong Customs had reported finding Sudan Red in a market sample of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream, but no affected batch number was publicly disclosed.
We now have considerably more information.
Singapore's Health Sciences Authority has independently tested Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream and detected Sudan IV in minute amounts in two samples.
Singapore has also publicly identified the affected batches:
Batch 2E122I.2E117I
Batch 2E191G.2E193G
The affected products were sold by Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.
Singapore initiated a retail-level Class 2 recall of these two batches on August 26, 2026.
Importantly, however, HSA also tested other Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream samples and did not detect Sudan IV in them.
That distinction is crucial.
Which Medicube Product Is Involved?
The product involved remains:
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream
This is the pink capsule moisturizer containing visible pink capsules suspended in a gel formula.
It Is NOT Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream
There has been considerable confusion online between these two products.
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream is the product involved in the Hong Kong and Singapore investigations.
Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream is a different product.
The regulatory findings discussed in this article should therefore not be attributed to Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream.
Which Medicube Batch Numbers Were Recalled?
Singapore's Health Sciences Authority has identified two affected batches:
2E122I.2E117I
2E191G.2E193G
HSA reported detecting minute amounts of Sudan IV in samples carrying these batch numbers that were sold by Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd.
A retail-level recall was initiated on August 26, 2026.
Retailers and wholesalers in Singapore were instructed to stop supplying the affected batches and return remaining stock.
These are currently the most important batch numbers for consumers following the Medicube Sudan Red controversy.
Was Sudan Red Actually Confirmed?
Yes.
At this point, it would no longer be accurate to describe the controversy as involving only one disputed Hong Kong laboratory result.
Two government regulators have reported detecting a Sudan dye in market samples.
Hong Kong
On July 24, 2026, Hong Kong Customs announced that a sample of the collagen cream purchased from the local market had been tested by the Hong Kong Government Laboratory.
According to Customs, Sudan Red was detected.
Singapore
On August 28, 2026, Singapore's Health Sciences Authority announced that its own testing detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in two samples of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.
Sudan IV belongs to the Sudan Red family of synthetic dyes.
This means that a Sudan dye has now been detected independently by regulators in two different jurisdictions.
However, this still does not establish that every Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream contains Sudan IV.
In fact, Singapore's own investigation produced both positive and negative results.
What Did Singapore Test?
This is one of the most important developments in the story.
On July 31, 2026, Singapore's HSA instructed three companies marketing Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream to temporarily suspend sales while the agency conducted testing.
The three companies were:
APR SG Pte. Ltd.
Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd.
Rirora International Pte. Ltd.
HSA subsequently tested product samples associated with all three.
The results were not the same.
Venus Beauty samples
Sudan IV detected in minute amounts.
Affected batches:
2E122I.2E117I
2E191G.2E193G
APR SG samples
Sudan IV not detected.
Rirora International samples
Sudan IV not detected.
HSA consequently allowed sales of the unaffected batches to resume.
This is an extremely important part of the story because it shows that the regulator itself did not find Sudan IV across every Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream sample it tested.
Did Singapore Recall All Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream?
No.
Singapore's recall specifically concerns the two identified batches sold by Venus Beauty.
The HSA recall is classified as Class 2, which Singapore defines as a recall involving an issue that is not likely to cause serious adverse health outcomes.
HSA specifically stated that the quantities of Sudan IV detected were minute amounts and were unlikely to pose serious health risks from previous use.
Nevertheless, Sudan Red dyes including Sudan IV are not permitted for use in cosmetic products in Singapore, so consumers were advised not to continue using the affected products.
HSA also reported that, as of its August 28 announcement, it had received no local reports of adverse events associated with the product.
What Happens to Other Medicube Batches in Singapore?
Singapore has introduced an additional safeguard.
HSA instructed all three companies involved to ensure that every batch of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream intended for sale in Singapore is tested by an accredited laboratory for the absence of Sudan IV before being supplied locally.
The companies must also provide those test reports to HSA.
This means Singapore did not ban the product entirely.
Instead, unaffected batches can continue to be sold, subject to additional testing requirements.
What About the Original Hong Kong Batch?
This remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.
As of this September 2026 update, Hong Kong Customs has not publicly disclosed the LOT or batch number of the product sample it tested.
Hong Kong's July 24 announcement reported that officers purchased the product from the market and submitted it to the Government Laboratory.
The Government Laboratory detected Sudan Red.
However, the public announcement did not provide a batch number.
Medicube has subsequently stated that the information publicly available from Hong Kong also does not disclose sufficient details about the exact purchase source, distribution route, authenticity verification, complete test methodology or quantitative laboratory results.
Therefore, we currently cannot establish whether the Hong Kong product belonged to either of the batches subsequently recalled in Singapore.
That remains unknown.
Does This Mean the Hong Kong and Singapore Cases Are Connected?
Possibly—but that has not been established.
The two investigations concern the same product and both resulted in detection of a Sudan dye.
That makes the Singapore finding highly relevant to the original Hong Kong controversy.
However, without the batch number of the Hong Kong sample, it is impossible to determine from the publicly available information whether:
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Hong Kong tested one of the same batches;
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Hong Kong tested a different batch;
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the products came through the same distribution channel; or
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the two findings resulted from separate circumstances.
Until Hong Kong publishes additional identifying information, the connection cannot be confirmed.
What Is Sudan IV?
Sudan IV is a synthetic azo dye belonging to the broader Sudan dye family.
Sudan dyes have historically been used for industrial colouring purposes and are not permitted as cosmetic ingredients under the regulations cited by the authorities involved in this case.
Singapore HSA specifically identified the substance found in its samples as Sudan IV.
This is more precise than the original Hong Kong announcement, which referred more generally to Sudan Red.
How Much Sudan IV Did Singapore Find?
HSA described the detected quantity as "minute amounts."
The authority also stated that the amount detected was unlikely to pose a serious health risk from previous use.
However, because Sudan IV is not permitted for use in cosmetics, the affected batches were still recalled.
This distinction is important.
The recall does not mean HSA concluded that consumers who previously used the cream were likely to experience serious harm.
It means that a prohibited substance was detected and the affected products therefore did not meet the applicable cosmetic requirements.
Should Consumers Who Already Used the Cream Be Worried?
Singapore HSA specifically addressed this question.
The authority stated that the minute amounts detected in the affected batches were unlikely to pose serious health risks from previous use.
HSA also reported no local adverse-event reports associated with the product as of August 28.
Nevertheless, consumers with one of the affected batches were advised not to continue using it.
Anyone experiencing an unexpected reaction after using a cosmetic should discontinue use and seek appropriate professional advice.
Why Did Some Medicube Samples Test Positive While Others Tested Negative?
This is now the central unanswered question.
Singapore's results demonstrate that not every sample tested contained detectable Sudan IV.
Possible explanations could include:
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differences between production batches;
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contamination affecting certain units or lots;
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differences in raw materials;
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storage or distribution conditions;
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unauthorized or parallel-market distribution;
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counterfeit products;
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sample-specific contamination; or
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other supply-chain factors.
These remain possibilities rather than confirmed explanations.
Neither consumers nor retailers should select one of these theories as fact until regulators or the manufacturer provide evidence identifying the source.
Could the Positive Medicube Products Be Counterfeit?
This possibility has received considerable attention, but it has not been established.
Medicube has raised questions about the origin and distribution history of products tested outside its confirmed distribution channels.
In its statement regarding the Hong Kong investigation, Medicube says it has not received enough information to determine whether the exact Hong Kong sample came through its authorized distribution network.
The company has listed unauthorized distribution or counterfeit products among several possibilities that could require further investigation.
Importantly, Medicube does not state that it has proven the Hong Kong sample was counterfeit.
The same caution should be applied to Singapore.
The fact that a product was sold outside a brand's authorized distribution network does not automatically mean it was fake.
Products can reach markets through parallel imports, resellers, wholesalers and other legitimate but unauthorized channels.
Counterfeiting is therefore one possible explanation—but not a confirmed one.
What About the Singapore Retailer Venus Beauty?
Singapore HSA identified Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd. as the local company associated with the two recalled batches.
The positive samples were products sold by Venus Beauty.
This is relevant because samples submitted by APR SG and Rirora International tested negative.
However, HSA's announcement does not state that the Venus Beauty products were counterfeit.
Consumers should therefore not interpret the positive results as proof of counterfeiting unless a regulator establishes that separately.
Are the Affected Batch Numbers Real Medicube Batch Numbers?
The public regulatory information identifies the affected products using these batch numbers:
2E122I.2E117I
2E191G.2E193G
However, a batch number alone does not necessarily establish the entire distribution history of a particular retail unit.
Determining exactly where the affected samples originated would require manufacturing, export, importer and distribution records.
This is why supply-chain traceability has become such an important part of the ongoing investigation.
What Has Medicube Said?
Medicube has maintained that Sudan Red is not intentionally used as an ingredient in its genuine products.
The company says it has conducted third-party safety testing and has cooperated with authorities by providing requested sales records, incoming-product records and product-safety documentation.
Regarding the original Hong Kong result, Medicube has said that it cannot currently determine why its testing and Hong Kong's result differed because it has not received sufficient identifying and testing information about the exact Hong Kong sample.
The company has identified several possibilities requiring further investigation, including differences in storage or distribution, testing methodology, unauthorized distribution or imitation products.
Medicube explicitly says it is not concluding that the Hong Kong product was counterfeit.
Does Medicube List Sudan Red or Sudan IV as an Ingredient?
No.
Sudan Red/Sudan IV is not declared as an ingredient in Medicube's published formula for PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.
The regulatory findings therefore concern a substance detected during laboratory analysis rather than a declared ingredient.
That distinction raises the important unresolved question of how Sudan IV entered the positive samples.
Does PDRN Contain Sudan Red?
No.
PDRN and Sudan Red are completely different substances.
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide.
Sudan IV is a synthetic dye.
The regulatory findings involving Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream do not establish that PDRN itself contains Sudan Red.
Does This Mean PDRN Skincare Is Unsafe?
No.
Nothing in the Hong Kong or Singapore findings establishes that PDRN skincare as a category contains Sudan dyes.
The findings concern samples of one specific cosmetic product.
Other PDRN products, other Medicube products and PDRN products manufactured by other brands should not automatically be associated with the findings simply because they contain PDRN.
Is Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum Affected?
The Hong Kong and Singapore announcements discussed here concern Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.
They do not establish that Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum contains Sudan IV.
Is Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream Affected?
The regulatory findings discussed in this article do not concern Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream.
The affected product is:
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.
These are different products.
Are All Medicube Products Affected?
No evidence published by Hong Kong Customs or Singapore HSA establishes contamination across the Medicube brand.
The Singapore findings actually demonstrate why this distinction matters: some PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream samples tested positive while others tested negative.
It would therefore be inaccurate to extend the finding automatically to unrelated Medicube products.
Are All Batches of PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream Affected?
The available evidence does not establish that.
Singapore specifically recalled two identified batches while allowing sales of unaffected batches to resume.
That is strong evidence that the Singapore regulator is treating this as a batch-specific issue based on the evidence currently available, rather than declaring every unit of the product contaminated.
I Have Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream. How Do I Check My Batch?
Keep the outer packaging and container and look for the printed LOT/batch code.
The two batch numbers currently identified in Singapore's recall are:
2E122I.2E117I
2E191G.2E193G
If your product carries one of these codes, you should follow the guidance of the retailer and the regulatory authority applicable where you purchased the product.
If your batch number is different, that does not provide an absolute guarantee of safety, but it does mean it is not one of the two batches specifically identified in Singapore's August 2026 recall.
Should I Throw Away My Medicube Cream If My Batch Is Different?
The available regulatory information does not support telling every consumer worldwide to discard every batch of PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.
Singapore allowed sales of unaffected batches to resume after testing and introduced batch-by-batch testing as an additional safeguard.
Consumers should follow official guidance applicable in their country and check for subsequent manufacturer or regulatory updates.
Was Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream Recalled Worldwide?
No.
The Singapore recall concerns two specific batches at retail level in Singapore.
Hong Kong separately advised consumers to stop using the product involved in its investigation and traders to remove it from shelves.
Neither action constitutes a worldwide recall of every Medicube product.
Why Does Buying From a Reputable Retailer Matter?
This controversy highlights an often-overlooked part of buying skincare online: traceability.
A reputable retailer should have records showing where products were purchased and which supplier or distributor supplied them.
That becomes extremely important when regulators identify a specific batch.
Consumers purchasing from unknown marketplace sellers, untraceable social-media sellers or unfamiliar websites may have much more difficulty establishing where their product came from.
Singapore HSA specifically advises consumers to purchase cosmetics from reputable retailers where the source and quality of products can be verified.
What Has Actually Been Confirmed as of September 17, 2026?
Several facts can now be stated with confidence.
Hong Kong: The Government Laboratory detected Sudan Red in a sample of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream purchased from the Hong Kong market.
Singapore: HSA independently detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in two samples of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream sold by Venus Beauty.
Singapore identified two affected batches: 2E122I.2E117I and 2E191G.2E193G.
Those two batches were recalled at retail level in Singapore.
Samples submitted by APR SG and Rirora International tested negative for Sudan IV.
Singapore allowed sales of unaffected batches to resume.
Singapore now requires batches intended for local sale by the three companies involved to be tested by an accredited laboratory for Sudan IV before supply.
Hong Kong has not publicly disclosed the batch number of its original sample.
There is currently no evidence from these regulatory findings that every Medicube product contains Sudan Red.
What Has NOT Been Confirmed?
It has not been established that every PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream contains Sudan IV.
It has not been established that all Medicube products are affected.
It has not been established that PDRN itself is connected to Sudan IV.
It has not been established that Medicube intentionally added Sudan IV.
It has not been established that the Hong Kong product came from either Singapore-recalled batch.
And it has not been established that the positive Hong Kong or Singapore products were counterfeit.
These distinctions matter.
What Questions Are Still Unanswered?
Despite the additional Singapore findings, several major questions remain.
What was the batch number of the Hong Kong sample?
Were the Hong Kong and Singapore positive samples connected?
Why did Singapore find Sudan IV in samples from one seller but not samples from two others?
Where did the affected Singapore units originate?
Was Sudan IV introduced during manufacturing, through a raw material, during distribution or through another source?
Are the positive products unquestionably authentic Medicube products?
Why have different samples produced different laboratory results?
Will other national regulators independently test the product?
Answering these questions will be critical to determining the ultimate scope and cause of the issue.
The Bottom Line
The Medicube Sudan Red controversy has changed considerably since July.
Originally, the story centered on one Hong Kong Government Laboratory result that Medicube disputed.
We now have a second independent government regulator.
Singapore's Health Sciences Authority detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in two samples of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream and recalled the affected batches:
2E122I.2E117I
2E191G.2E193G
That makes the contamination concern more substantial than it appeared when only the Hong Kong result was available.
At the same time, Singapore's investigation provides another equally important piece of information:
Other samples of the exact same Medicube product tested negative for Sudan IV.
HSA therefore permitted unaffected batches to return to sale while requiring additional batch testing.
The evidence currently points toward an issue affecting at least certain market samples, rather than evidence that every Medicube product worldwide contains Sudan Red.
What remains unknown is why those particular samples tested positive.
Until regulators establish the source, claims that Medicube deliberately used Sudan Red, that every batch is contaminated, or conversely that all positive products must have been counterfeit go beyond the evidence currently available.
For consumers, the most practical step is simple:
Check your batch number, purchase from a traceable and reputable retailer, and follow official regulatory updates rather than viral claims on social media.
This article will be updated as additional regulatory findings become available.
Medicube Sudan Red FAQ — September 2026
Which Medicube product was recalled?
The product involved is Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream.
Which Medicube batches contain Sudan IV?
Singapore HSA detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in samples from batches 2E122I.2E117I and 2E191G.2E193G sold by Venus Beauty. These batches were recalled at retail level in Singapore.
Is Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream affected?
The regulatory findings discussed here concern PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream, not Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream.
Was Sudan Red actually found in Medicube?
Government laboratories in Hong Kong and Singapore have reported detecting Sudan dyes in market samples of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream. Singapore specifically identified the substance as Sudan IV.
Did every Medicube sample test positive?
No. Singapore HSA reported that samples submitted by APR SG and Rirora International did not contain detectable Sudan IV.
Are all batches recalled?
No. Singapore recalled two identified batches and allowed unaffected batches to resume sale.
How much Sudan IV was found?
Singapore HSA described the detected quantities as minute amounts.
Is it dangerous if I already used the cream?
Singapore HSA stated that the minute amounts detected were unlikely to pose serious health risks from previous use. Consumers were nevertheless advised not to continue using the affected batches.
Were there reports of people becoming sick?
Singapore HSA reported that it had received no local adverse-event reports associated with the product as of its August 28 announcement.
What was the Hong Kong batch number?
Hong Kong Customs has not publicly disclosed the LOT/batch number of its tested sample.
Is the Hong Kong batch the same as the Singapore batches?
That has not been established because the Hong Kong batch number has not been publicly disclosed.
Were the positive products fake Medicube?
That has not been established. Unauthorized distribution or counterfeit products are among the possibilities requiring investigation, but neither Hong Kong nor Singapore has publicly concluded that the positive samples were counterfeit.
Does Medicube intentionally use Sudan Red?
Medicube says Sudan Red is not used as an ingredient in its genuine products. There is currently no regulatory finding establishing that Medicube intentionally added Sudan Red to the product.
Does PDRN contain Sudan Red?
No. PDRN and Sudan Red are different substances.
Is Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum affected?
The regulatory findings discussed here concern PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream, not PDRN Pink Peptide Serum.
Should I stop using my cream if my batch is not listed?
The two batches specifically recalled by Singapore are 2E122I.2E117I and 2E191G.2E193G. Other Singapore samples tested negative and unaffected batches were allowed to resume sale. Consumers should follow the latest guidance from the regulator applicable where they purchased their product.
Is Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream banned worldwide?
No. There is no worldwide ban or worldwide recall established by the Hong Kong and Singapore actions discussed here.
What happens next?
The most important developments to watch are additional regulatory testing, disclosure of the Hong Kong batch number, clarification of the distribution chain for the positive samples, and evidence identifying how Sudan IV entered the affected products.
Last updated: September 16, 2026.
This article summarizes publicly available regulatory information and manufacturer statements for educational purposes. Regulatory investigations can change as new testing and evidence become available.