October 27, 2017 Foreign Product Alerts: Weight loss products These foreign health products have been found by regulators in other countries to contain undeclared drug ingredients. Body Con Plus capsules, Physic Candy, Define, 7-day slim extreme capsules. The products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Nov 1, 2017 Advisory: Unauthorized sexual enhancement products seized Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple unauthorized sexual enhancement products seized from four Toronto retail locations may pose serious risks to health. Stop using these products. Consult with your health care professional if you have used any of these products and have health concerns. 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 whether products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada’s Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.

September 11, 2017

Health Canada is advising of a recall of Setraline 50mg, as it may contain capsules of Sertraline 25mg.

September 15, 2017

Health Canada is advising of a recall of pms-Bisacodyl due to results not meeting specifications for the stability of the active ingredient content.

Sep 28, 2017

Health Canada is reminding Canadians and women in particular, that thermograms (which use thermal imaging) are not a substitute for mammograms used for routine monitoring and screening for breast cancer. While thermography devices are available in Canada, these devices have not been licensed in Canada to screen for breast cancer. They have been licensed by Health Canada only to measure skin temperature, similar to a thermometer.

Health Canada is not aware of any clinical evidence that thermography devices can be used effectively for the early detection of breast cancer. If women are relying solely on thermography results, there is a potential risk that cancer could go undetected.

Mammography, which is a low-dose x-ray system to see inside the breasts, is the most reliable technique in screening for early-stage breast cancer, and has been proven to be safe and effective. Specialized equipment used in mammography is licensed by Health Canada and is widely available across Canada.

August 24, 2017

On August 24, 2017, Broken Coast Cannabis Ltd., a licensed producer of cannabis for medical purposes located in British Columbia, has begun a voluntary Type III recall of 3 lots of dried marijuana that were produced between June to July 2016. The affected lot numbers are found below.
Following the inspection at the Broken Coast Cannabis Ltd. site in March 2017 to conduct random sampling of cannabis products, a test result for a cannabis oil sample in July 2017 showed the presence of myclobutanil and spinosad, at levels below quantifiable limits.
This resulted in further sampling of cannabis products from the licensed producer site where a cannabis leaf sample indicated the presence of myclobutanil at a level of 0.017 parts per million (ppm). The licensed producer undertook further testing of their products through a third party laboratory, which indicated the presence of myclobutanil. As a result, Broken Coast Cannabis Ltd. is recalling three lots of dried marijuana sold between July and December 2016.

August 25, 2017

Health Canada is advising consumers that the unauthorized prescription product “Kobayashi Eyebon Eyewash” may pose serious health risks. The product is labelled to contain the prescription drug, aminocaproic acid, and is promoted as an eyewash for contact lens users and for the prevention of eye disease. The product, sold in three formats (Cool, Mild and Regular), was seized at the Catwalk Boutique retail location in Burnaby, B.C. (1313 – 4500 Kingsway). The product was also being sold online (www.ac-beauty.com/shop) and at the Catwalk Boutique retail location in Richmond, B.C. (2005 - 4000 No.3 Rd.).
The unauthorized health product was packaged and labelled in Japanese. As a result, information about ingredients, usage, dosage and side effects may not be understood by all consumers. Products that contain prescription drug ingredients should only be taken under the supervision of a health professional because they are used to treat specific diseases, and may cause serious side effects.

September 1, 2017

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Apotex Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot (lot 6G07) of its Apo-Nitroglycerin sublingual (under the tongue) spray (0.4 mg/metered dose) as the spray pump may malfunction and not deliver the drug.
Nitroglycerin is a prescription drug used to relieve acute attacks of angina (chest pain). The pump is intended to deliver the drug by spraying it under the tongue. Patients experiencing angina who do not receive nitroglycerin could be at risk of suffering a heart attack.

July 8, 2017

Further to a recent recall of RestoraLAX 45+10, Health Canada is advising Canadians that Bayer Inc. is expanding its voluntary recall to include specific lots of RestoraLAX 30+7 Bonus Packs sold at various retailers across Canada due to a potential choking hazard. Specific lots of RestoraLAX 30+7 Bonus Packs may contain deposits such as clumps or lumps.‎ The presence of these deposits may pose a choking hazard. RestoraLAX is used to relieve occasional constipation and irregularity.

July 25, 2017

Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple unauthorized products may contain drug ingredients: Big N Hard, Black Gorilla, Cummor, Dragon Max, Oh Baby!, Man XXX, Maxman IV, Maxman Premium, Maxman V, Monkey Business, MMC Maxman XI, MME Maxman IX capsules, New Advanced Technological, V9 Male Sexual Stimulant, Real Skill Male Sexual Stimulant, Rize N Shine, Tornado, Xrect, XXXL Penis Enlarging Ointment, Z Daily.

July 25, 2017

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Novo Nordisk A/S has updated a voluntary recall of insulin cartridge holders used in certain lots of its NovoPen Echo and NovoPen 5 insulin pens. The company detected that the cartridge holders may crack or break if exposed to certain chemicals, such as some cleaning agents.

July 2, 2017

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Bayer Inc. is voluntarily recalling RestoraLAX 45 + 10 Value Pack sold at Costco Canada due to a potential choking hazard. The recalled product may contain deposits such as clumps or lumps.‎ The presence of these deposits may pose a choking hazard. RestoraLAX is used to relieve occasional constipation and irregularity.

June 23, 2017

Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple unauthorized health products seized from two adult stores in Scarborough and Etobicoke, ON, may pose serious risks to health. Products seized include “poppers” and products promoted for sexual enhancement.

"Poppers" is a slang term for products that contain alkyl nitrites. Despite being labelled for various uses such as leather cleaners, room odourizers or liquid incense, these products are inhaled or ingested by consumers for recreational purposes. Alkyl nitrites, such as amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite, are prescription drugs and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Products containing alkyl nitrites may pose serious risks, including death, depending on the amount used, how frequently they are used and how long they are used for, as well as the person's health and the other medications they may be taking. Since it is difficult to control how much is inhaled, people can accidentally overdose. Swallowing these products can lead to serious medical complications and may be fatal. People with certain medical conditions (including recent head trauma, bleeding into the head, glaucoma, or heart disease) and those taking certain medications (particularly drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction), and other drugs (such as high blood pressure medications, certain migraine drugs, and high doses of aspirin) or illicit drugs are at particular risk.

June 26, 2017

Health Canada is advising Canadians that it has seized unauthorized “Jupiter” and “Kratom Zone” kratom products from two retail stores in Edmonton, AB. Kratom may pose serious health risks when swallowed or inhaled. Health Canada has not authorized any product containing kratom for sale. It is illegal to sell any health products in Canada without authorization from Health Canada. The Department advises consumers not to swallow or inhale products labeled to contain kratom because of the potential side effects, including liver and heart problems.

May 19, 2017

Unauthorized Botanicals: "High By Nature" kratom products recalled

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Garnoff Botanicals is voluntarily recalling unauthorized “High By Nature” kratom products because they may pose serious health risks when swallowed or inhaled. The products were being promoted online at garnoffbotanicals.com and sold at various retail locations, including smoke shops, across Canada.

Health Canada has not authorized any product containing kratom for sale. It is illegal to sell any health products in Canada without authorization from Health Canada. The Department advises consumers not to swallow or inhale products labelled to contain kratom because of the potential side effects, including liver and heart problems.