Advisory

2001-105
October 5, 2001

Health Canada advises consumers about additional products that could contain aristolochic acid

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising consumers not to use products labelled to contain Bragantia, Diploclisia, Menispermum, Sinomenium, Vladimiria souliei and Soussurea lappa. Recent evidence obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has led Health Canada to suspect that these herbs are being used interchangeably with Aristolochia in Traditional Chinese Medicine products. Aristolochia is an herb that produces aristolochic acid, which is a toxin that can cause cancer, changes in human cells and end-stage kidney failure.

In previous warnings, Health Canada requested that manufacturers, importers and retailers stop sale and remove from the shelves all products labelled to contain Aristolochia, Aristolochic acid, Stephania, Clematis, Akebia, Cocculus, Asarum or Mu Tong. This request is now being extended to include Bragantia, Diploclisia, Menispermum, Sinomenium, Vladimiria souliei and Soussurea lappa. A customs alert has also been issued to ensure that products containing any of these herbs do not enter Canada.

There have been numerous international reports of death or injury from kidney failure due to ingestion of products found to contain aristolochic acid. Other countries, including the United States, Australia and member states of the European Union, have taken regulatory action to address the risk of aristolochic acid to consumers.

As information becomes available regarding additional herbs or products and their risk of containing aristolochic acid, Health Canada will update the public as soon as possible.

Health Canada advises consumers not to consume products containing any of the following herbs, as they may contain aristolochic acid:

• Aristolochia
• Stephania
• Clematis
• Akebia
• Cocculus
• Asarum
• Mu Tong
• Bragantia
• Diploclisia
• Menispermum
• Sinomenium
• Vladimiria souliei
• Soussurea lappa

Media inquiries:
Marie Morrisey
Health Canada
Pager: (613) 957-3840

Ryan Baker
Health Canada
(613) 941-8189