The Department of Health (DH) today (August 17) urged the public not to buy or consume a product named "H.I. COFFEE" as it was found to contain an undeclared controlled ingredient.
      
     During its market surveillance, the DH purchased a sample of the above product for analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory confirmed that the sample contained desmethyl fondenafil, a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (the Ordinance) (Cap 138).
      
     Officers of the DH initiated a joint operation with the Police in Mong Kok yesterday and a woman aged 45 was arrested by the Police for illegal sale and possession of a Part 1 poison. The DH's investigation is continuing.
      
     According to the Ordinance, illegal sale or possession of a Part 1 poison is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
      
     "Desmethyl fondenafil is structurally similar to sildenafil, a prescription drug ingredient used for erectile dysfunction, and this undeclared ingredient may interact with nitrates found in some drugs such as nitroglycerin and cause a decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels," a spokesman for the DH said.
      
     "Our Drug Office has market surveillance in place to monitor products in the market. We will continue to monitor the safety of virility products by intelligence collection, investigations and laboratory analysis," the spokesman added.
      
     "The public should not buy or consume products of doubtful composition. Those who have purchased the above product should stop taking it immediately and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or feeling unwell after consumption," the spokesman said.
      
     People who have purchased the products may submit them to the Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.      
      
     The public may visit the Drug Office's page for health message on sexual dysfunction and virility products and information on those products found to contain undeclared Western medicines.

Ends/Thursday, August 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:13

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