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Foreign product alert

Foreign Product Alerts: Aisiyuan V26 Slimming Granules, AcaiBerry Living-XS, and 4C Cosmoslim

Starting date:
November 8, 2013
Posting date:
November 8, 2013
Type of communication:
Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
Subcategory:
Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Undeclared Substance
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-36269

Introduction

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.

Affected products

  • Aisiyuan V26 Slimming Granules
  • AcaiBerry Living-XS
  • 4C Cosmoslim 

Aisiyuan V26 Slimming Granules

Product description

This product is promoted for weight loss.   

Hazard identified

The Hong Kong Department of Health has warned consumers not to use this product as it contains sibutramine, a drug ingredient that is not declared on the product label.

  • Sibutramine was previously used to treat obesity but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack and stroke. 

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

In addition to heart attack and stroke, side-effects associated with sibutramine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation.

AcaiBerry Living-XS and 4C Cosmoslim

Product description

These products are promoted for weight loss.   

Hazard identified

The Hong Kong Department of Health has warned consumers not to use AcaiBerry Living-XS and 4C Cosmoslim as they contain sibutramine and phenolphthalein, drug ingredients that are not declared on the product label.

  • Sibutramine was previously used to treat obesity but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack and stroke.
  • Phenolphthalein was previously used as a laxative but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because it may cause cancer.

Place of origin

Unknown

Side effects

In addition to heart attack and stroke, side-effects associated with sibutramine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation.

Additional side-effects associated with phenolphthalein include decreased blood pressure, skin rash and gastrointestinal bleeding.

What you should do

Canadians who possess any of the products listed above are advised not to use them, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of these products.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the products 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 October 25, 2013, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of these products have been reported to Health 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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