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Three Probiotic Natural Health Products May Pose Serious Health Risks to Canadians with Milk or Soy Allergies
- Starting date:
- December 23, 2010
- Posting date:
- December 23, 2010
- Type of communication:
- Advisory
- Subcategory:
- Allergen - Milk, Allergen - Soy, Natural health products
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Allergy Information, Product withdrawal, Labelling and Packaging
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-110004065
- Issue
- What you should do
- Who is affected
- Background
- Affected products
- Report health or safety concerns
- Related AWRs
- Media enquiries
- Public enquiries
- What Health Canada is doing
- Images
Issue
Notice to the reader: This document has been updated by an Advisory dated December 24, 2010.
Consumers with milk or soy allergies are advised that three probiotic natural health products (listed below) are being voluntarily recalled from the market because they are labelled as not containing dairy (milk) and/or soy but may contain trace amounts of milk or soy protein from ingredients used in the production process.
People with allergies to milk or soy can experience a range of mild to severe symptoms when exposed to even small amounts of milk or soy proteins. These symptoms may include breathing difficulties that, in some cases, can be life threatening. It is important to note that no adverse reactions involving these products have been reported to Health Canada.
The three products are promoted as natural health products that contain live bacteria (probiotics) for therapeutic purposes.
What you should do
- Speak to your healthcare practitioner with any questions or concerns regarding further use of these products.
- Report any adverse reaction potentially related to these products to Health Canada (see below).
Who is affected
Canadians with milk or soy allergies who have purchased or used any of the three products listed below.
Background
Live microorganisms, including probiotics, that are included in natural health products are grown in nutrient solutions called culture media. The culture media used to produce probiotics include a source of protein, which is frequently but not always derived from milk or soy, which are both priority allergens in Canada. For products that are formulated as pills or dry powders, the culture media is mostly removed before freeze-drying. Because culture media is removed, it is not considered to be a non-medicinal ingredient and is not required to be listed on product labels. However, traces of milk, soy or any other priority allergen included in culture media that was removed can remain in the product in quantities sufficient to provoke an allergic reaction in highly sensitive individuals.
Products that have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label. Some natural health products may have an Exemption Number (EN), which indicates that the product is legally available for sale while Health Canada is reviewing its application for licensing. The products being recalled have NPNs, as indicated below.
Affected products
A. Saccharomyces Boulardii
Product description
Oral capsule
Hazard identified
Product claims to not contain soy but has come into contact with soy during manufacturing.
Code(s) on product
NPN 80013551
Place of origin
Advanced Orthomolecular Research Inc. (AOR)
B. Herbasaurs Bifidophilus for Kids
Product description
Oral capsule
Hazard identified
Product claims to not contain dairy but has come into contact with dairy during manufacturing.
Code(s) on product
NPN 80015508
Place of origin
Nature's Sunshine Products of Canada Ltd.
C. Acidophilus Bifidobacterium
Product description
Oral capsules
Hazard identified
Product claims to be dairy free but has come into contact with dairy during manufacturing.
Code(s) on product
NPN 80015336
Place of origin
Nature's Sunshine Products of Canada Ltd.
Report health or safety concerns
To report suspected adverse reaction to these or other health products, please contact Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and send to us using one of these methods:
- Fax: 1-866-678-6789
- Internet: MedEffect
-
Mail: Canada Vigilance Program
Marketed Health Products Directorate
Ottawa, ON, Address Locator 0701E
K1A 0K9
Related AWRs
2010-12-24 | Food, Health products
2011-04-05 | Food, Health products
Media enquiries
Health Canada
613-957-2983
Public enquiries
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada will monitor the company recalls and work with the companies to ensure these products are appropriately labelled.
Images
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