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Health Canada warns of bacteria in unauthorized peptides sold online
Lab testing found three types of potentially harmful bacteria in unauthorized peptide products sold online, Health Canada says. The agency is urging consumers to stop buying and using them and says people with fever or pain and swelling at an injection site should seek immediate medical care.
Health Canada is warning consumers not to use unauthorized peptides after lab testing found bacteria in products sold online. The agency said it found three different bacteria that could be harmful to people.
Injectable peptides are generally regulated as prescription drugs in Canada and are advised to be used under the care of a licensed health-care professional. Health Canada said it seized more than 11,400 vials of the drugs from Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (ERP Peptide) and two online retailers that sold the company’s products.
Unauthorized products sold by ERP Peptide include Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, MOTS-C, NAD+, Retatrutide, Tesamorelin and Tirzepatide.
Health Canada said selling unauthorized drug products is illegal. The products have not been assessed by the agency for safety, efficacy or quality, and scientific trials have not demonstrated that they provide the health benefits they claim. The agency said unauthorized peptides are often promoted for weight loss, muscle growth, anti-ageing or wellness, but may expose users to significant and unpredictable health risks.
Those risks can include hormonal imbalance, mood swings, blood-sugar imbalance, liver or kidney damage, blood clots and the growth of cancerous tumours, the agency said. It added that unauthorized drugs are not tested for safety, quality or sterility. Products may therefore contain too little or too much active ingredient, dangerous or unknown ingredients, or substances that cause allergic reactions or medical interactions. They may also contain solvents, heavy metals, particles of glass or plastic, or microbes.
Health Canada said it has asked ERP Peptide to stop selling illegal products into Canada immediately. The agency is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop unauthorized shipments from entering the country.
Health Canada is encouraging consumers to stop buying the products. Anyone who has used them and develops a fever or pain and swelling at the injection site should seek immediate medical attention, the agency said.