Health Canada Warns of Lead Danger in Supplement

Health Canada Warns of Lead Danger in Supplement

OTTAWAHealth Canada issued awarning July 23, 2004, that consumers should not use Sesa Hair Supplementcapsules due to unacceptable lead contamination and that any person who hastaken the product should consult a physician. The agency reported that oneperson who had taken the product required hospitalization for lead poisoning.

According to the agency, tests indicated the product containedmore than 7,000 times the allowable amount of lead. The tests also found mercuryand arsenic. The product, made by Rani-Pharma Inc. in Ontario, Canada, was soldto treat hair loss.

According to Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca), the product wasnot authorized for use and did not have a Drug Identification Number (DIN),Natural Product Number (NPN) or Drug Identification Number HomeopathicMedicine (DIN-HM).

Health Canada issued a stop sale order to clinics that stockthe product and a customs alert to prevent the product from entering thecountry. The agency also has asked the company to recall the product.

An unidentified person at Rani-Pharma told INSIDERthat the company is recalling the product.