A Burnaby-based nutritional products firm is refusing to comply with a recall request by Health Canada after an antibiotic was detected in two of their products.
Health Canada has issued a warning to consumers that Vega One Vanilla Chai and Vega Sport Performance Chocolate made by Vega – formerly Sequel Naturals – contain chloramphenicol, an antibiotic linked to aplastic anemia.
"Testing by the company identified the chloramphenicol, but Sequel Naturals Ltd. is refusing Health Canada's request to recall these products despite the potentially serious risks posed to health," the bulletin reads.
The company maintains that its products are completely safe and "pose no risk to human health," according to a statement.
Testing by Vega found levels of chloramphenicol between 0.42 and 1.3 parts per billion, which is about 125 millionth of a therapeutic dose, according to Vega president and founder Charles Chang.
"Chloramphenicol is a natural antibiotic found in nature and is used worldwide as a treatment for typhoid fever and even today CAP is used as a treatment for eye infections," said Chang in a video response to the Health Canada bulletin.
The enzyme contaminated with CAP makes up about one per cent of the volume of the affected beverages.
"The trace amounts are so minute they pose no risk to consumers," said Chang.
The drug is associated with aplastic anemia, a serious blood disorder, in about one in every 30,000 to 50,000 cases. The effect is not dose-related, according to Health Canada.
Click here for more stories from the Vancouver Sun.
