Kam Chik San

Starting date:

July 29, 2010

Posting date:

July 29, 2010

Type of communication:

Foreign Product Alert (FPA)

Subcategory:

Natural health products, Affects children, pregnant or breast feeding women

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Product Safety, Undeclared Substance

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-120001250

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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.

Source of alert

Hong Kong Department of Health

Product names

Kam Chik San

Manufacturer / Place of origin

Chan Ka Yuen Medicine Co., Hong Kong

Product description

Kam Chik San is promoted for use in children aged 10 months and up for the treatment of poor appetite, weight loss, and parasitic diseases affecting the intestinal tract. Each pack of the product contains a sachet of powder weighing about 0.6g.

Reason for warning

The Hong Kong Department of Health (HKDH) cautioned against the use of Kam Chik San after samples were found to contain mercury at a level much higher than permitted by the HKDH. The amount far exceeds Canadian intake levels as well. According to the HKDH alert, high levels of mercury were found in the blood and urine samples of an 8-year-old male who had been hospitalized for a viral infection. Investigations revealed that the boy had a history of taking the product. Ingestion of excessive amounts of heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead and mercury, poses serious health risks because they may accumulate in vital organs of the body. Children are most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals.

Possible side effects

The toxic effects of mercury include irritability, tremors, memory loss, insomnia, concentration problems, and kidney and brain damage.

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 1-800-267-9675 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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