Three unauthorized health products labelled with prescription drug names seized at "Taste of Ukraine" in Burnaby, B.C.

Issue

OTTAWA - Health Canada is informing Canadians that it has seized three unauthorized health products from the Taste of Ukraine, 4976 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. The products (see photos below) were seized as they were labelled with prescription drug names (ampicillin, doxycycline and diclofenac). Products containing prescription drug ingredients should only be taken under the supervision of a health professional because they are used to treat specific diseases, and may cause serious side effects. The seized products have not been approved by Health Canada. This means that they have not been assessed for their safety, effectiveness and quality. As a result, they may contain ingredients not listed on the label, other additives and/or contaminated ingredients. In addition, they may lack the active ingredients Canadians would expect them to contain to help maintain and improve their health or other ingredients that may interact with other medications and foods. For all of these reasons, they could cause serious health effects. Drug products that have been authorized for sale in Canada have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) that demonstrates they have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality. They can be found by searching the Drug Product Database. Consumers who have used any of these unauthorized products should consult with their healthcare practitioner if they have any concerns about their health and report adverse events to Health Canada. Consumers should report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free to 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form. Should additional retailers or distributors of these unauthorized health products be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.

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