Erectile dysfunction drug found in honey product sold on e-commerce platforms
The Singapore Food Agency also found medicinal substances – a steroid and a laxative – in two other food products.
The front and back of a box containing sachets of B Solution Honey (Liquid). (Photo: Singapore Food Agency)
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SINGAPORE: A honey supplement was among three products found to contain substances not permitted for use in food, including tadalafil, a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a media release on Tuesday (Aug 4) that the drug was detected in B Solution Honey (Liquid).
Tadalafil should only be taken under medical supervision, it added.
The packaging of the honey product, from Malaysia, directs consumers to take the contents in the sachets with water. The product also claims to "enhance vitality" and stamina.
Inappropriate use of tadalafil is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate and priapism, which refers to painful and exceedingly long erections.
It can also cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure in people taking heart medications, especially those containing nitrates, SFA said.
The agency also detected steroid medicine dexamethasone in Jus Tuan Haji 1921, a product from Malaysia, and sennosides in Shaio-Ge Xian Li 365 S1 Botanical Beverage Mix Barley Seedling Powder from Taiwan.
Dexamethasone is used to treat various inflammatory conditions, and its side effects can include blurred vision, excessive hair growth, acne, menstrual irregularities, headache and Cushing's syndrome, a disorder that occurs when the body produces too much of the hormone cortisol.
An overdose of dexamethasone may also cause psychosis, hallucinations and an electrolyte and fluid imbalance, SFA said.
Sennosides is used to relieve constipation, and its common side effects can include abdominal pain, spasms, diarrhoea and low potassium levels in the blood.
The agency said that prolonged use of the medication can cause dehydration and a lazy bowel, where bowel muscles become too relaxed, leading to less frequent bowel emptying and possible long-term constipation.
In response to CNA’s query, SFA said that the three products were sold mainly on e-commerce platforms.
It had worked with sellers to remove listings of the products and issued advisories directing the respective sellers to stop selling them with immediate effect, it added.
Checks by CNA at about 10pm on Tuesday found several listings for B Solution Honey (Liquid) on e-commerce platform Lazada. These listings were removed by Wednesday.
In response to CNA's queries on Wednesday, Lazada said that it had taken down the relevant listings and is conducting daily sweeps to identify and remove such products.
"We have strict product governance measures in place and will continue to take action to remove any non-compliant listings."
SFA advised consumers who bought the products not to consume them and encouraged those who have concerns about their health to seek medical advice.
"Consumers should also exercise caution and be mindful of the risks associated with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources and are advised to seek more information before making any purchase," it said.
Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply of these products can write to the agency online.
