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Advisory

2005-08
March 3, 2005
For immediate release

Health Canada reminds consumers not to use products containing aristolochic acid

OTTAWA - Health Canada is reminding consumers not to use products containing aristolochic acid, a naturally occurring toxin that can cause cancer, cell mutation and kidney failure in humans.

This reminder is being issued due to recent instances where travellers to Asia have returned to Canada with products reported to contain this toxin. One such product, Shenyi Qian Lie Hui Chun Capsule (Shun Tat Hong, Importer), has been recalled by the Hong Kong Department of Health due to the presence of aristolochic acid. Consumers may also have ordered these products by mail.

There have been numerous international reports of death and injury from kidney failure as a result of ingestion of products containing aristolochic acid, but none to date in Canada.

Health Canada permits importations of small amounts of drug and natural health products to allow travellers returning to Canada to continue treatment. However, while personal importations may be permitted, where these products are not authorized for sale in Canada, the onus is on the traveller to make sure that they are aware of any potential risks to health. Travellers purchasing drugs, including natural products, in other countries need to be particularly vigilant about ingredients in these products as labelling requirements vary from country to country.

Health Canada has issued an alert to the Canada Border Services Agency to prevent importation of products that may contain aristolochic acid.

Due to complexities involved in translation, certain traditional Chinese remedies and other natural health products may not be adequately labelled to correctly distinguish different types of herbs. Products with the following ingredients could contain the herb Aristolochia and/or its toxin aristolochic acid:

Akebia, Aplotaxis, Aucklandia, Clematis, Cocculus, Diploclisia, Inula, Menispermum, Stephania, Sinomenium, Saussurea, or Vladimiria.

The only herbs that are known to contain aristolochic acid are Aristolochia (birthwort, Virginia snakeroot), Asarum (wild ginger - unrelated to common ginger, and its synonym Hexastylis), and Bragantia (also known as Apama or Thottea).

If you have products that may contain aristolochic acid, contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675. Further information about traditional products recalled in Hong Kong.

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Media Inquiries:
Nathalie Lalonde
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991