Information Update - Health Canada testing identifies additional health risks involving unauthorized products sold by A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic Ltd.

OTTAWA, April 12, 2019 /CNW/ - Further to Health Canada's advisory on January 28, 2019, warning Canadians that all products sold by A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic were unauthorized and should not be used, Health Canada is updating Canadians that it has identified additional health risks in products manufactured and sold by A1 Herbal.

Health Canada previously warned that lab testing found lead and mercury in A1 Herbal Ayurvedic products. Further testing of seized products and ingredients from the clinic identified lead, arsenic and nimesulide.

Arsenic, lead and mercury are heavy metals that pose serious health risks. Ingestion of excessive amounts of arsenic, lead or mercury may accumulate in vital organs of the body. Children are most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals. Nimesulide is a drug that is not authorized for sale in Canada and has been withdrawn from the market in several countries because it is associated with liver damage.

A list of affected products and ingredients is provided below. Health Canada continues to advise consumers to stop using all A1 Herbal Ayurvedic products.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used Ayurvedic products from A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic Ltd., including through its website.

What you should do
If you have any products from this company:

• Stop using them immediately. Consult your health care professional if you have used any A1 Herbal Ayurvedic products and have health concerns.
• Properly dispose of the products according to municipal waste guidelines.
• Report any health product-related adverse reactions or complaints to Health Canada.

If you see A1 Herbal or any other unauthorized health products for sale in Canada:

• Report them to Health Canada using this online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada previously seized all products, ingredients and equipment from A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic locations in Surrey, B.C. and Brampton, Ontario, and cancelled all of A1 Herbal's natural health product licences, which means that none of the seized health products are authorized for sale by Health Canada. Selling unauthorized health products is illegal in Canada. Unauthorized health products have not been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. 

As communicated in January, A1 Herbal was also found to be operating without the necessary Health Canada license. Operating without the required licence is a serious contravention. A site licence indicates that a company has processes and procedures in place that meet Health Canada's requirements to track and recall health products and also indicates that the company is manufacturing, packaging and labelling products in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (a standard that helps to ensure the quality of health products sold to Canadians).

The Department continues to work with federal regulatory partners, including the Canada Border Services Agency, to help prevent the importation of these products. Health Canada also continues to work closely with the local health authorities and has shared its recent test results.

Health Canada is considering further actions and will inform Canadians as needed should any new health risks be identified.

Background
Arsenic, lead and mercury are heavy metals that pose serious health risks. Ingestion of excessive amounts of arsenic, lead or mercury may accumulate in vital organs of the body. Children are most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals.

The toxic effects of arsenic include skin and lung cancers, heart and lung diseases, and brain damage. 

The toxic effects of lead include abdominal pain, anemia, changes in blood pressure, reproductive disorders such as miscarriage, weakness, concentration problems, weight loss, insomnia, dizziness, and kidney and brain damage.

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

Nimesulide is a drug in the family known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and is used to treat pain, fever and inflammation. It is not authorized for sale in Canada and has been withdrawn from the market in several countries due to an association with liver damage. Other side effects include gastrointestinal disorders (with or without bleeding), anemia, kidney failure and reduced blood clotting ability.

Related links

• Advisory (2019-01-28): Health Canada warns that products sold by A1 Herbal Ayurvedic Clinic Ltd. may pose serious health risks
• Advisory (2008-05-08): Health Canada Reminds Consumers That Some Ayurvedic Medicinal Products Contain High Levels of Heavy Metals
  
  

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SOURCE Health Canada