Unauthorized kratom and sexual enhancement products seized from multiple George's Convenience stores in the Greater Toronto Area may pose serious health risks

Starting date:: January 25, 2018
Type of communication:: Advisory
Subcategory:: Natural health products
Source of recall:: Health Canada
Identification number:: RA-65822

Issue
What you should do
Who is affected
What industry professionals should do
Background
Media enquiries
Public enquiries
Images

Issue

Health Canada is advising Canadians that it has seized several health products, including one kratom and 16 sexual enhancement products, from multiple George’s convenience stores located in the Greater Toronto Area (Brampton, Maple, Markham and Woodbridge). These products are not authorized by Health Canada and may pose serious health risks.

What you should do

Stop using these products. Consult your health care professional if you have used these products and have health concerns, and for advice on which health products are best for you and your family.
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 if products have been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada’s Drug Product Database and Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
Report any health product adverse events or complaints to Health Canada.
See the additional information on buying health products safely in the helpful links below.

Who is affected

Canadians who have bought or used these products.

Affected products

Unauthorized health products
Product & Promoted Use	Hazard Identified	Company	Action Taken
Yellow Borneo Kratom	Labelled to contain kratom	George’s Convenience 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON	Seized from the retail location
Triple Maximum White Panther Sexual enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 3651 Major Mackenzie Dr, Unit 4, Woodbridge, ON	Seized from the retail location
Paparazzi 5800 Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging previously seized from other retailers was tested and found to contain sildenafil	George’s Convenience 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON	Seized from the retail location
MV7 Days 2000 Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging previously seized from other retailers was tested and found to contain sildenafil and tadalafil	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON	Seized from the retail location
Green Mamba Sexual enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON	Seized from the retail location
Passion Classic Sexual enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 3651 Major Mackenzie Dr, Unit 4, Woodbridge, ON	Seized from the retail location
7K Sexual enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON 3651 Major Mackenzie Dr, Unit 4, Woodbridge, ON	Seized from the retail location
Triple Maximum Rodeo Fantasy Sexual enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON	Seized from the retail location
Jaguar 11000 Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging previously seized from other retailers was tested and found to contain sildenafil and tadalafil	George’s Convenience 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON	Seized from the retail location
Rush Hour 72 Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging previously seized from other retailers was tested and found to contain sildenafil, tadalafil, desmethyl carbodenafil, and dithiodesmethyl carbodenafil	George’s Convenience Locations: 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON 8565 Hwy 27 Woodbridge, ON 630 Peter Robertson Blvd, Brampton, ON	Seized from the retail location
Super Hard Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging tested by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration was found to contain undeclared sildenafil	George’s Convenience 9445 Mississauga Road, Unit 2, Brampton, ON	Seized from the retail location
Triple Maximum LipsTenZen Sexual enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON	Seized from the retail location
Poseidon Platinum 3500 Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging previously seized from other retailers was tested and found to contain sildenafil	George’s Convenience 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON	Seized from the retail location
Strong-SX Sexual enhancement	Product with similar packaging tested by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration was found to contain undeclared sildenafil	George’s Convenience 9960 Dufferin Street, Maple, ON	Seized from the retail location
Triple Green Sexual Enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience 9980 Kennedy Rd Markham, ON	Seized from the retail location
Hard Rock 3800 Sexual Enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience 8565 Hwy 27 Woodbridge, ON	Seized from the retail location
Rhino 8 Sexual Enhancement	Labelled to contain yohimbe	George’s Convenience 3651 Major Mackenzie Dr, Unit 4, Woodbridge, ON	Seized from the retail location

What industry professionals should do

Selling unauthorized health products in Canada is illegal.
When Health Canada identifies unauthorized products that may pose serious health risks, Health Canada takes appropriate action to prevent further distribution and informs Canadians. This includes working with the Canada Border Services Agency to help prevent further importation of unauthorized products.

Background

Desmethyl carbodenafil is an unauthorized substance similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks.

Dithiodesmethyl carbodenafil is an unauthorized substance similar to sildenafil and may pose similar health risks.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a herbal product that may pose serious health risks when swallowed or inhaled. Side effects include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, liver toxicity and excessively rapid heartbeat. Kratom has been linked to both narcotic and stimulant-like effects, and has potential for abuse and dependence. Health Canada has not authorized the sale of any product containing kratom.

Sildenafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. It should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g. nitroglycerine) as it can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. Individuals with heart problems are at increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure and abnormal heartbeat. Other possible side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Tadalafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. It should not be used by individuals taking any kind of nitrate drug (e.g. nitroglycerine) as it can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure. Individuals with heart problems are at increased risk of cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure and abnormal heartbeat. Other possible side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, abnormal vision, and hearing loss.

Yohimbine is a prescription drug and should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Yohimbine is derived from yohimbe, a bark extract. The use of yohimbine or yohimbe may result in serious adverse reactions, particularly in people with high blood pressure, or heart, kidney or liver disease. Side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety, dizziness, tremors, headache, nausea and sleep disorders. It should not be used by children, or pregnant or nursing women.