Why were old instant coffee brands pulled over sildenafil

Hong Kong's Department of Health received a complaint that a product called Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee contained undeclared sildenafil, a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction. Government Laboratory testing confirmed the finding. Officials urged the public not to buy or consume it, warning of low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and blurred vision, and possible dangerous interactions with drugs such as nitroglycerin.

A reporter later found the platform HKTVmall still selling another brand with similar packaging and ingredients, Araon Adam Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee, which was removed after follow-up. The case involves imported instant coffee products rather than everyday drinking coffee after drinking alcohol, and serves as a reminder to check the source and labeling of any coffee product before purchase.

Recently, the Hong Kong Department of Health received a complaint from a member of the public alleging that a product called "Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee" contains an undeclared controlled drug ingredient, sildenafil. Sildenafil is a prescription drug for treating erectile dysfunction and must be used under a doctor's guidance; improper use may cause serious side effects such as low blood pressure, headache, and vomiting. The Department of Health urged the public not to buy or consume it. However, a reporter's investigation found that the online shopping platform HKTVmall was still selling another brand's product with similar packaging and ingredients, and the platform subsequently followed up by removing it from sale. This article reviews the sequence of events, compares the product ingredients, and summarizes responses from all parties, reminding consumers to be wary of coffee products from unknown sources while also paying attention to safe purchasing advice for legitimate brands such as "Front Street."

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Recently, according to Sing Tao Headline, the Hong Kong Department of Health received a complaint from a member of the public alleging that a product called "Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee" had problems. After testing, the Government Laboratory confirmed that a sample of the product contained an undeclared controlled drug ingredient, sildenafil.

It is understood that sildenafil is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. It must be used under a doctor's advice and must be purchased with a doctor's prescription at a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

The Department of Health pointed out that the drug may cause side effects such as low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and temporary blurred vision. It may also interact with certain drugs (such as nitroglycerin used to treat angina), causing blood pressure to drop to dangerous levels. Improper use of sildenafil may bring serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems. Therefore, the Department of Health urged consumers not to buy or consume it.

However, the reporter found that the online shopping platform HKTVmall was still selling another brand, "Araon Adam Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee." Although this product is not the "FIRSTWELL" brand named by the Department of Health, the packaging of the two is similar, and their ingredients are alike, both containing Arabica coffee, tongkat ali extract, maca extract, and guarana extract.

In addition, the packaging of the "Aaron Adam" brand includes drinking recommendations, stating one serving each time and no more than two servings per week. The introduction also states that the product cannot replace medicine and has not been registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance or the Chinese Medicine Ordinance. The product's effects may vary depending on factors such as different physical conditions, age, and lifestyle habits.

In response, HKTVmall replied that it was aware of the Department of Health's appeal and was following up on the incident. It had temporarily found one merchant selling the related product and had already removed the product from sale. It would later proactively notify customers who had purchased the product and handle the matter with discretion and refunds. Later, at 11 a.m. that day, the reporter found that although "Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee" could still be searched on the online shopping platform, the item was shown as removed from sale.

HKTVmall said that if it finds a merchant selling products in violation of regulations, it will immediately remove the product from sale and impose a fine on the merchant. In serious cases, the platform will even terminate its cooperative relationship with the merchant. HKTVmall pointed out that the platform has a quality monitoring department and has established strict merchant guidelines, continuously conducting random inspections and checks on products sold by merchants to ensure that the products they sell comply with regulations and standards.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health strongly urged the public not to buy products with unknown or suspicious ingredients, nor to consume products from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products must bear a registration number on their packaging. The safety, quality, and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed. Members of the public who have purchased the above products are advised to stop taking them immediately. If they feel unwell after taking the related products, they should promptly seek advice from healthcare professionals.

Image source: Sing Tao Headline, internet

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