Health Canada warns Canadians that unauthorized health products promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, or as workout aids may pose health risks.
The agency is also warning that unauthorized products used to lighten skin or treat skin conditions (such as eczema or psoriasis) may pose risks. These products are labelled to contain or have been tested and found to contain dangerous ingredients.
Several new products have been added to a previous table with affected products that pose health risks.
Unauthorized health products have not been approved by Health Canada, which means that they have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness and quality.
These Unauthorized health products can pose many health dangers, including:
- They may contain ingredients not listed on the label. This includes ingredients like prescription drugs, possibly at doses exceeding maximum recommended amounts. Prescription drugs should be taken only under the supervision of a health professional because they may cause serious side effects. Using a product that contains ingredients that the consumer is not aware of increases the chance of dangerous allergies and interactions with other medications and foods.
- The label may indicate a dangerous ingredient or combination of ingredients. For example, it could list a drug that should be available only by prescription from a health care professional, or a combination of ingredients that Health Canada does not permit because of serious health risks.
What you should do
- Stop using the products listed in the table. Consult your health care professional if you have used these products and have health concerns, and for advice on which health products are best for you and your family.
- Read product labels to verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada. Authorized health products have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM). You can also check if products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada’s Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
- Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.
- See the additional information section on buying health products safely in the helpful links below.
