Archive - Fufang LuHui Jiaonang

Starting date:

July 18, 2006

Posting date:

July 18, 2006

Type of communication:

Foreign Product Alert (FPA)

Subcategory:

Natural health products

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Product Safety, Poisoning Hazard

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-1200039

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These 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.

Product name

Fufang LuHui Jiaonang

Manufacturer / Place of origin

Unknown

Product description

According to the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Fufang LuHui Jiaonang is a traditional Chinese medicine (intended use unknown) supplied in blister packs contained within a blue and cream-coloured carton.

Reason for warning

In November 2005 and April 2006, the U.K's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued alerts on Fufang LuHui Jiaonang because it was found to contain toxic levels of mercury. Product is roughly 11 per cent mercury.

Possible side effects

Mercury can affect the kidneys and central nervous system, causing tremors, insomnia, memory loss, irritability, concentration problems, and can permanently damage the brain and kidneys.

Special information

This product is supposed to be a formulation of the medicinal herb, aloe. This particular product does not appear in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005) and information is lacking on the other ingredients of this compound medicine.

What you should do

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-96755 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
• Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

Media enquiries

Health Canada

613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991

1-866-225-0709

Images

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