Informing the public of possible health hazards and enabling Canadians to make informed decisions concerning the continued use of consumer and marketed health products, including foreign products not authorized for sale in Canada and not found on the Canadian marketplace, but which may have entered the country through personal importation or by purchase over the Internet.
URL: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca
Updated: 45 sec ago
OTTAWA – Health Canada is warning Canadians of the potential risk of cancer relapse in patients with cancer of the blood and lymph nodes who have undergone stem cell transplant and are taking long-term azithromycin (Zithromax).
Health Canada testing of “Jian Pai Natural Skin Care Cream,” also called ‘’Yikangshuang,” found that it contains two antifungal drugs (fluconazole and miconazole) that are not listed on the product label, and may pose serious health risks.
Health Canada seized eight unauthorized skin lotions and creams from Ayotai Canada because they are labelled to contain a prescription drug (clobetasol propionate or betamethasone dipropionate). The unauthorized lotions and creams were distributed by Ayotai and sold by various retailers in Quebec.
Several drugs containing the ingredient valsartan are being recalled by their manufacturers. An impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), was found in the valsartan used in these products. The valsartan was supplied by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals. NDMA is a potential human carcinogen, which means that it could cause cancer with long-term exposure. Five companies have affected products, which are being recalled (identified in table below).
June 28, 2018
For immediate release
OTTAWA – With the growing availability of fentanyl test strips on store shelves and online, Health Canada would like to remind Canadians of the potential limitations when using fentanyl test strips to detect fentanyl or other deadly substances in street drugs before consuming them.
June 7, 2018
For immediate release
Health Canada is advising Canadians about unauthorized health products that may pose serious health risks. Thetable belowis updated when Health Canada finds unauthorized health products that are promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, as a workout aid, or as “poppers,” and that are labelled to contain or have been tested and found to contain dangerous ingredients.
Health Canada is in the process of reviewing the safety of various sunscreen products and will share the results in the coming weeks. The Department will take immediate action and inform Canadians should a safety concern be identified with any sunscreen product sold in Canada.
Pfizer Canada Inc. has notified Health Canada that it has received complaints of broken or chipped pills involving Demulen 30, a prescription birth control pill. Health Canada has previously communicated on similar issues involving two other brands of birth control pills. Health Canada continues to remind women to check their packages of birth control pills and to report problems if they see them. If you notice anything unusual in the package, such as missing or damaged pills, you should return the package to the pharmacy for replacement as soon as possible. Skipping a dose because the pill is missing, or taking a damaged (for example, chipped or fragmented) pill, may increase the risk of pregnancy because less active ingredient may be taken. It is important to get a replacement package as soon as possible to avoid missing any doses.
While enjoying the warm summer weather, don't forget to protect yourself from pesky bugs that bite! Health Canada is reminding Canadians to use bug spray and other insect repellents safely to avoid mosquito and other bug bites.
Health Canada is advising Canadians that it has seized an unauthorized “Botox” product and other unauthorized health products from Arshia Hair Salon and Spa (6062A Yonge Street) in Toronto, ON, because they may pose serious health risks. These products may have been administered as injectable treatments for cosmetic purposes.
Health Canada has seized four unauthorized drugs from Gigi’s Market, 23 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON. The products (Ampicillin, Kamox, Medampi and Medomox) are labelled to contain antibiotic drugs (ampicillin or amoxicillin) that can only be dispensed by a healthcare professional to a patient with a valid prescription. The products listed below have not been evaluated by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness or quality and may pose serious health risks.
Health Canada is advising Canadians that several “Sāj” brand kratom products were seized from two Edmonton stores (Sāj, located at Sherbrooke Plaza, 11839 St Albert Trail, and Jupiter, located on 12841 97th Street NW). Kratom products are not authorized by Health Canada and may pose serious health risks.
These foreign health products have been found by regulators in other countries to contain undeclared drug ingredients.
