Advisory - "Novodalin B17/amygdalin" being sold online poses serious risk to health

OTTAWA, Feb. 23, 2016 /CNW/ -

The issue:

Healh Canada is advising Canadians who purchased Novodalin B17, an unauthorized natural health product claiming to treat cancer to stop using the product and contact their doctor for appropriate follow-up. No health products containing B17 or amygdalin have been authorized by Health Canada to treat cancer or any other condition. Health Canada does not permit cancer treatment claims for natural health products. Decisions on cancer treatment should be made with your doctor.

Novodalin B17 being sold online by cdnf.com also poses serious risks to health as it is labelled to contain apricot kernel extract. Apricot kernels may contain amygdalin, a compound derived from bitter apricot kernels that has the potential to release cyanide when ingested by humans. The concentration of amygdalin is unknown at this time, however, ingesting low to moderate amounts of cyanide may lead to serious adverse health consequences and high doses may be lethal.

Products affected:

Novodalin B17.

Who is affected:

Consumers who have bought or used Novodalin B17.

What consumers should do

• Consult with your doctor if you have used this product and have health concerns.
• Read the product label to verify that health products have been authorized for sale by Health Canada have an eight-digit DIN, a DIN-HM or a NPN.
• Verify if products that have been authorized for sale by searching the Drug Product Database and the Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
• Report any adverse events to Health Canada.
• Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free to 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing:

Health Canada has requested the online seller to stop sale and will take further action and advise Canadians should additional risks be identified.

Background:

No drug products containing B17 or amygdalin have been approved by Health Canada.

Health Canada has previously communicated on the risk of buying drugs, natural health products or medical devices online. The healthycanadians website also routinely informs consumers about unlicenced health products that have been found on the Canadian market.

Unlicensed products have not been reviewed by Health Canada for safety, quality or effectiveness. They may contain hidden ingredients not listed on the label, dangerous 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. For all of these reasons, they could cause serious health effects.

How to report side effects to health products to Health Canada:

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

Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

Images

Novodalin B17 – front of package

Également disponible en français

SOURCE Health Canada

Image with caption: "Novodalin B17 – front of package (CNW Group/Health Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160223_C8403_PHOTO_EN_627852.jpg

Media Enquiries: Health Canada, [phone]; Public Enquiries: [phone], 1-866-225-0709