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Foreign product alert

[W.S.] Tian Ma Toutong Wan, Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan (Ye Guang Wan), Nai Chang Ming Yan Pills (Ming Yan Pills), [Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan

Starting date:
January 23, 2013
Posting date:
January 23, 2013
Type of communication:
Foreign Product Alert (FPA)
Subcategory:
Natural health products
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Product Safety, Non-medicinal Ingredient
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-16911

These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Source of alert

Hong Kong Department of Health

Product names

  • [W.S.] Tian Ma Toutong Wan
  • Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan (Ye Guang Wan)
  • Nai Chang Ming Yan Pills (Ming Yan Pills)
  • [Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan
  • Bak Foong Pills (11 products - see below for details)

Manufacturer / Place of origin

[W.S.] Tian Ma Toutong Wan, Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan (Ye Guang Wan and Nai Chang Ming Yan Pills (Ming Yan Pills are manufactured by Wah Shun Medicine Limited.

[Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan is manufactured by Luen Hing Hong.

Bak Foong Pills are manufactured by Peking Medicine Manufactory.

Product description

[W.S.] Tian Ma Toutong Wan is promoted for relieving headaches.

Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan (Ye Guang Wan) and Nai Chang Ming Yan Pills (Ming Yan Pills) are both promoted for "improving vision in adults."

[Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan is promoted for relieving arthritic symptoms and headaches.

Bak Foong Pills are promoted for relieving menstrual discomfort.

Reason for warning

The Hong Kong Department of Health has warned consumers not to purchase or use certain batches of these products after they were found to contain excessive levels of lead or mercury. Ingestion of excessive amounts of heavy metals such as lead or mercury poses serious health risks because the metals may accumulate in vital organs of the body. Children are most susceptible to the toxic effects.

[W.S.] Tian Ma Toutong Wan, Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan (Ye Guang Wan), Nai Chang Ming Yan Pills (Ming Yan Pills) and [Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan were found to contain levels of lead above Health Canada's tolerance limits for heavy metal contaminants in natural health products.

The recalled batches are as follows:
Product name Registration Number Batch Number
[W.S.] Tian Ma Toutong Wan HKP-02389 80090TR3
Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan (Ye Guang Wan) HKP-03387 8011 WP1
Nai Chang Ming Yan Pills (Ming Yan Pills) HKP-01836 8011 NY1
[Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan HKP-00317 001188

Two Bak Foong Pill products were found to contain mercury above Health Canada's tolerance limits for heavy metal contaminants in natural health products. Nine other Bak Foong Pill products manufactured with the same batch of ingredients were also recalled.

The affected products and batch numbers are as follows:
Product name Registration Number Batch Number
[Tin Bo Tong] Bak Foong Pills HKP-03671 AL0255,
AL0107
[Sau Hong Tong] Bak Foong Pills HKP-15919 AL0255
[Whole Deer Brand] Bak Foong Pills HKP-02928 AL0255
[Double Fish Brand] Bak Foong Pills HKP-04207 AL0255
[Sin Wo Tong] Bak Foong Pills HKP-15136 AL0255,
AL0107
[Ching Tak Tong] Pak Foong Pills HKP-15132 AL0255,
AL0107
[Yan Chai Tong] Reishi Bak Foong Pills HKP-02931 AL0107
[Fuk Shun Tong] Bak Foong Pills HKP-14548 AL0107
[Lung Tak Brand] Bak Foong Pills HKP-01733 AL0107
[Tsin Sau Tong] Bak Foong Pills HKP-15107 AL0107
[Sai Man Tong] Bak Foong Pills HKP-10956 AL0107

Possible side effects

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.

What you should do

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

  • Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
  • Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Images

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