Illegal health products have been seized from a Richmond beauty supply store.
Image Credit: Health Canada
December 20, 2017 - 3:46 PM
RICHMOND – Authorities in the lower mainland have seized various unauthorized health products, including bottles labelled 'human placenta' and a product derived from stem cells from a beauty supply store.
A relase from Health Canada doesn’t say when the seizure was made but warns anyone who purchased products from Before & After Beauty Lab on Hazelbridge Way in Richmond could be at risk.
“The seized products include unauthorized injectable products and products applied on the skin, including a high-concentration lidocaine cream, a drug labelled as human placenta, and a drug labelled as being derived from stem cells,” the release says. “The products are packaged and labelled in languages such as Japanese or Korean. As a result, information about ingredients, usage, dosage and side effects may not be understood by all users.”
Consumers who have taken Be balance ALA Concentrate, Dr Maylab "Losheen Stem Cells Therapy" Amniotic Fluid-derived stem cells, J-Cain lidocaine cream (15.6%), Mastelli Placentex, Melsmon Human Placenta and MSD Gentacin Ointment should see a doctor.
“None of the products listed above have been authorized by Health Canada and may pose serious health risks as they have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness or quality,” the release says.
ALA (aminolevulinic acid) is a prescription drug applied to the skin by qualified health professionals followed by special blue light therapy to treat actinic keratoses (rough, scaly, potentially pre-cancerous patches of skin).
Gentamicin is a prescription antibiotic drug that may cause irritation, with redness and itching.
“Potential risks associated with the use of unauthorized human placenta products include bacterial and viral disease transmission. No health products containing human placenta have been authorized for sale by Health Canada," the release says.
Use of unsafe stem cell therapies could result in bacterial and viral disease transmission and although Lidocaine cream is safe when used in small amounts, the concentrations seized by Health Canada could cause the buildup of toxic levels of lidocaine in the body.
Image Credit: Health Canada
To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017