Foreign Product Alert

2007-51
April 24, 2007
For immediate release

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following product listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info

FiberChoice plus Multivitamins

Consumers should avoid or discontinue use of this product immediately. Consumers who suspect an adverse reaction should consult their health practitioner as soon as possible.

Date of alert	April 24, 2007
Source of Alert	GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Product Names	FiberChoice plus Multivitamins
Manufacturer / Place of Origin	GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), United States
Products Description	FiberChoice plus Multivitamins are marketed as a fibre supplement in the U.S. The product is sold in a multi-coloured plastic bottle, each bottle containing 90 tablets (16 oz.)
Reason for Warning	GlaxoSmithKline recalled FiberChoice plus Multivitamins after the product was found to be contaminated with fish gelatin, a known allergen that can cause life-threatening reactions in some sensitive individuals or those with known or previously unknown fish allergies. Fish gelatin is not declared as an ingredient on the product label.
Possible Side Effects	The risk of serious allergic reactions is more likely in consumers with a known history of fish or seafood allergies and those with asthma. The side-effects can vary from minor symptoms (e.g. itching, nausea) to serious reactions involving the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea), respiratory tract (e.g. breathing difficulty) and anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction).

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Media Inquiries:
Alastair Sinclair
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed in the table in the Canadian marketplace.

For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.