Health Canada, Aug 24, 2001
2001-94
August 24, 2001
Warning
Health Canada is
warning Canadians not to use the pediatric product Tao Chih Pien as it
contains aristolochic acid
OTTAWA - Health Canada warns
consumers not to use the pediatric product TAO CHIH PIEN, as recent tests
have shown that it contains aristolochic acid. Aristolochic acid can cause
cancer, mutations in human cells and is known to cause end-stage kidney
failure. Tao Chih Pien is sold in the form of tablets, and is said to be a
diuretic and laxative.
The Tao Chih Pien product is not labelled to contain Aristolochia.
However, in Chinese characters only, it is labelled to contain Mu Tong (a
traditional term used to describe numerous herbs, including Aristolochia,
that sometimes may be used interchangeably in traditional Chinese
medicines).
The product packaging is white and yellow, with the words TAO CHIH PIEN
(For babies) in English. It is manufactured by TianJin Medicines &
Health Products Import and Export Corp in China.
Health Canada has requested that importers immediately stop the
importation and sale of this product, that the product be recalled to the
retail level and that retailers remove the product from store shelves. To
this end, Health Canada has also issued a Customs Alert for this product.
Health Canada advises individuals who have purchased this product not
to consume it and return it to the place of purchase. Those who may have
consumed this product should contact their health care professional.
Health Canada issued a warning on Aristolochia in November 1999 and a reminder in August 2001.
This particular product was analyzed and found to contain
aristolochic acid, as part of the ongoing market survey associated with
the earlier August advisory. To date, no reports of adverse or toxic
reactions related to products containing aristolochic acid have been
reported in Canada.
The text in this article was prepared by Health Canada.