Advisory - "Beyond Yourself Multi Athlete" and unauthorized bulk "Multi-Vitamines" seized from Shop Santé stores in Quebec may pose serious health risks

OTTAWA, March 16, 2018 /CNW/ -

Issue
Health Canada is advising Canadians that "Beyond Yourself Multi Athlete" multivitamin and unauthorized "Multi-Vitamines" sold in bulk were seized from several Shop Santé stores in Quebec because they may pose serious health risks.

While "Beyond Yourself Multi Athlete" multivitamin is labelled as approved by Health Canada (NPN 80053503), the dosing instructions and brand name on the package do not match Health Canada's authorization. Consumers following the package instructions would be exposed to excessively high doses of vitamins A and K, which may pose serious health risks. The authorized brand name was "Complete Multi Athlete." Health Canada has suspended licence NPN 80053503, which means that no version of "Beyond Yourself Multi Athlete" (including 'Complete Multi Athlete') is authorized for sale by Health Canada.

Health Canada also found an unauthorized "Multi-Vitamines" product, which was stored in a dispenser and sold in bulk at Shop Santé. The information on the dispenser provides a recommended serving size that would expose consumers to excessively high doses of vitamins A and K, which may pose serious health risks.

Pregnant women and people taking certain blood thinners may be particularly at risk, as high doses of vitamin A can cause birth defects and high doses of vitamin K can reduce the effectiveness of certain blood thinning drugs (such as warfarin).

Canadians should be aware that Health Canada does not authorize natural health products to be sold in bulk. Natural health products must be properly labelled and packaged with information including the product's use or purpose; daily dose; cautions and warnings; medicinal ingredients and their quantities; expiry date; and the Natural Product Number (NPN) issued by Health Canada, so that the consumer has this information at home.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used these health products.

Affected products

What consumers should do

• Do not use these products. Consult with your health care professional if you have used these products and have health concerns.
• Report adverse events to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1‑866‑234‑2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax.
• Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1‑800‑267‑9675, or complete an online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada seized the "Beyond Yourself Multi Athlete" multivitamin products and the "Multi-Vitamines" sold in bulk from the retail locations.

Health Canada also suspended licence NPN 80053503, which means that no version of "Beyond Yourself Multi Athlete" (including "Complete Multi Athlete'') is authorized for sale by Health Canada. At Health Canada's request, the company Beyond Yourself (also known as 9231-6124 Québec Inc.) has initiated a recall of this product from retailers.

Should additional products, retailers or distributors be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.

Background
Bulk, unlabelled natural health products may pose serious health risks. While such products may look legitimate, there is no way of knowing where they were manufactured or what's in them. They may be fake or unlicensed products with no active ingredients, the wrong ingredients, dangerous additives (such as prescription drugs), contaminated products or products past their expiry date. Bulk natural health products may not be labelled with the required information to help consumers use them safely. 

Vitamin A is a vitamin taken by mouth. The maximum recommended daily dose without a prescription is 10,000 International Units (IU). Symptoms of vitamin A overdose include headaches, fever, fatigue, appetite loss, nausea and diarrhea. Women in the early months of pregnancy who take excessive doses of vitamin A risk serious birth defects in their unborn children. Women who are or might be pregnant should not take high doses of vitamin A.

Vitamin K is a vitamin taken by mouth. High doses of vitamin K may interact with certain blood-thinning drugs (such as warfarin) and reduce their effectiveness.

Related links

• Unauthorized natural health product promoted as a workout supplement, "Fluffy Unicorn" seized from Shop Santé Laval in Quebec
• Unauthorized products may pose serious health risks

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SOURCE Health Canada