Health Canada warns of contaminated injectable drugs after seizing over 11,400 vials

Health Canada has warned consumers against unauthorized injectable peptides after laboratory tests detected bacteria in products supplied by Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology. More than 11,400 vials were seized from the supplier and two Canadian online retailers.

The November 6 advisory names truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com. Officials obtained court-issued entry warrants, seized unauthorized drugs and took enforcement action; the websites are no longer active.

Examples listed include hCG, MOTS-C, NAD+, retatrutide, tesamorelin and tirzepatide. The warning concerns unauthorized products: consumers should check the specific product’s authorization rather than assume a substance name establishes its safety.

Testing found Acinetobacter seifertii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis and Cutibacterium acnes. Health Canada says contaminated injections can cause serious infections, hospitalization or life-threatening sepsis.

What consumers should do

Do not buy or use the unauthorized products. Anyone who has used them and develops fever, redness, swelling, injection-site pain or feels unwell should seek medical attention immediately.

Buy prescription medicines from licensed pharmacies and check for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number. Products labelled for research rather than human consumption should not be injected.