Erectile dysfunction drug found in honey product, candy sold on e-commerce platforms
Tadalafil should only be given under medical supervision, according to SFA.
The products - Hunter Honey and Dynamint X - have been adulterated with tadalafil, a potent prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction. (Photos: SFA)
(Updated: 20 Mar 2024 05:57PM)
The products - Hunter Honey and Dynamint X - have been adulterated with tadalafil, a potent prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction. (Photos: SFA)
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20 Mar 2024 05:29PM (Updated: 20 Mar 2024 05:57PM)
SINGAPORE: Tadalafil - a potent prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction - has been detected in two food products marketed as a honey substance and candy.
Hunter Honey and Dynamint X were sold on multiple local e-commerce platforms, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) warned on Wednesday (Mar 20).
"SFA has worked with various online e-commerce platforms to remove the listings of these products and issued warnings to the respective sellers to refrain from selling the two products with immediate effect."
Consumers are advised not to purchase or consume the adulterated products, the agency said in a media release.
Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.
Checks by CNA on Wednesday afternoon found that several listings for both products were still available on the Shopee and Lazada platforms.
Images of the products provided by SFA show that Hunter Honey, sold in a black box bearing the image of a bee, is manufactured in Zambia. The packaging describes the product as being a combination of ten types of mixed honey and "natural herbs" that is suitable for vegans.
The black and gold packaging of Dyanmint X claims that the product is "100 per cent natural" and comes from Selangor in Malaysia.
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WHAT IS TADALAFIL
Tadalafil is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be given under medical supervision, said SFA.Inappropriate use of tadalafil is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate as well as priapism, also known as painful and prolonged erections.
It can also pose serious risks to certain individuals, including those with heart-related problems.
The medication may cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure in those who are on heart medications, especially those containing nitrates, the agency added.
SFA advised consumers to be cautious and mindful of the risks associated with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources. They are also advised to seek more information before purchasing the products.
The agency said it will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against those who sell and supply food products that are found to be adulterated with banned substances or potent ingredients.
Those found guilty face a fine not exceeding S$5,000.
If there is a second or subsequent conviction, a person may be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.
