What does Kopi Songkok coffee contain, and why is it banned?

A pre-mixed coffee sold as "Kopi Songkok," tied to the product Panggung AL-Ambiak Natural Herbs Coffee, contains sildenafil, a prescription ingredient. Malaysia's Ministry of Health placed it on its banned list in 2020, yet the product is still found on the market and people keep buying it. Doctor Amukhan warned on X that it can cause headaches, palpitations, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and in serious cases death.

Sildenafil is used to treat certain conditions, but at the wrong dosage it dilates blood vessels and drops blood pressure quickly, so it requires a prescription. The concern is that buyers rarely know what does coffee contain when a product is pre-mixed and unlabeled. A domestic case in which someone was sentenced for selling coffee contains a reminder that these drinks carry legal as well as health consequences.

A pre-mixed coffee called "Kopi Songkok" contains sildenafil, a prescription ingredient that can be fatal, and has been placed on Malaysia's Ministry of Health ban list, yet it is still circulating on the market to this day. Malaysian doctor Amukhan warned in a post on the social platform X that drinking the coffee may cause headaches, palpitations, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and even death. Worryingly, many Malaysians continue to buy and drink it. This article reviews the coffee's ban history, health risks, netizens' personal experiences, and a domestic case in which someone was sentenced for selling coffee containing sildenafil, to remind consumers to be more vigilant.

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According to China Press, a pre-mixed coffee called "Kopi Songkok" has been exposed as containing sildenafil, an ingredient that can cause death.

Doctor Amukhan, who often shares medical knowledge on social media, revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Ministry of Health has issued a ban on the sale of "Songkok" coffee. But surprisingly, even though this coffee can trigger headaches, palpitations, and other uncomfortable reactions, many Malaysians still drink it as usual.

It is understood that the "Kopi Songkok" mentioned by the doctor actually corresponds to a product named "Panggung AL-Ambiak Natural Herbs Coffee." As early as 2020, when the local Ministry of Health issued a notice prohibiting the sale of foods containing toxins and false labeling, this coffee was already placed on the banned list.

Yet even today, this product can still be seen on the market, and people are still buying and drinking this coffee that causes physical discomfort.

Doctor Amukhan said that last week he shared the potential harms of "Kopi Songkok" with netizens on TikTok, and subsequently received a large number of comments from netizens describing various symptoms after drinking it.

He further pointed out that although the sildenafil contained in "Kopi Songkok" can be used to treat certain diseases, once ingested in excess, it causes vasodilation, which in turn leads to a sharp drop in blood pressure. Therefore, drugs containing this ingredient must be obtained with a doctor's prescription.

"If sildenafil is used at an improper dosage, it may cause headaches, nausea, diarrhea, muscle aches, rapid heartbeat, stroke, and in severe cases may even be fatal."

For this reason, Doctor Amukhan called on netizens not to blindly buy and drink this coffee, so as not to harm their health. If headaches, nausea, and other discomforts appear after drinking it, they should consult a licensed doctor as soon as possible and receive proper treatment.

Many netizens also shared their personal experiences in the comments: "Once, when I wanted to stay awake during a night shift, I drank this kind of coffee once, and as a result my blood pressure soared. The next day I was hospitalized and ran a fever for a week straight. Since then, I have not dared to touch any coffee again."

According to a notice from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Lin, in order to seek profit, registered and opened three online stores on an online platform, selling a food product called "Tongkat Ali Maca Coffee." Appraisal by relevant departments found that this coffee contained sildenafil.

Investigation showed that Lin sold a total of 777 packets of the coffee involved, with sales amounting to 13,000 yuan. In April this year, the court sentenced Lin to 11 months in prison for the crime of producing and selling toxic and harmful food, and also imposed a fine of 25,000 yuan. At the same time, Lin was ordered to pay punitive damages of 10 times the sales amount, publish a consumer warning in the media, and make a public apology.

Image source: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.