Natural health product (Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg) recalled due to contamination with the antibiotic chloramphenicol

Starting date:

January 3, 2014

Posting date:

January 3, 2014

Type of communication:

Advisory

Subcategory:

Natural health products

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Contamination

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-37423

• Issue
• Products affected
• What you should do
• Who is affected
• Report health or safety concerns
• Media enquiries
• Public enquiries
• What Health Canada is doing

Issue

Alive Health Centre, in consultation with Health Canada, is voluntarily recalling two lots of its natural health product Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg due to contamination with chloramphenicol, an antibiotic that may pose serious health risks to consumers. Chloramphenicol is associated with a rare risk of aplastic anemia, a serious blood disorder that can be fatal. This reaction is unpredictable and not related to a specific dose of chloramphenicol.

Chloramphenicol is a prescription drug and should only be used under medical supervision in adults and children after careful consideration of the risks associated with it use. Other side effects that can be associated with chloramphenicol include allergic reactions in people who have sensitivity to the medication, and effects on the bone marrow leading to decreased blood cells. In addition, it should not be used by pregnant or lactating women.

Products affected

Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg (NPN 80034337) Lots: 21211147 and 21203128

What you should do

• Consult your healthcare practitioner immediately if you have used this product.
• Report any adverse events using this product to Health Canada.
• Contact Alive Health Centre at 1-604-263-3235 to return the product.

Who is affected

Canadians who have used this product.

Report health or safety concerns

• 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.

Media enquiries

Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Public enquiries

(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709

What Health Canada is doing

Health Canada is monitoring the recall of Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg by Alive Health Centre.