Public health inspectors are warning about the health risks posed by foods that contain the erectile-dysfunction drug sildenafil and are sold illegally. After the Cologne public order office found a dietary supplement and a drink called “Drill Ginseng Drink” containing the Viagra active ingredient sildenafil in March and removed them from circulation, the office recently came across freely sold sildenafil tablets at a kiosk. Those can also have dangerous side effects.
They were also available on the internet, and Amazon removed them after a tip, according to a spokesperson for the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Consumer Protection. Sildenafil should only be used with medical authorization due to its side effects. The confiscated products were not approved for sale in Germany. The ministry issued corresponding food warnings. The illegal products reportedly originated from Turkey, a country outside the EU — a fact that complicates the work of German authorities.
Dauererektion nach Schokoladen-Genuss
Cologne inspectors have now struck again: this time, during a routine check of a retailer, they confiscated a dark chocolate called “evelle Hilti,” which bears a heart graphic and the inscription “Make Love.” The product, produced by a Turkish company, is said to contain the prescription drug sildenafil; consuming the chocolate could lead to a prolonged erection, headaches, facial flushing, perceptual disturbances, and reduced reaction time, the consumer protection ministry warns. In addition, using it in combination with poppers can be life-threatening because the combination can trigger a massive and uncontrolled drop in blood pressure.
The Turkish company did not name a person responsible for the product in the EU. For that reason, the product is banned here as well. The distribution channel is unknown, and a nationwide distribution is suspected. On the same day, the ministry issued a warning about a chocolate called “Ginseng 48 hours Gold Chocolate” that also contains sildenafil. Here too, the distribution channel was unclear and no responsible party was listed.
Customs repeatedly encounters foods with prohibited ingredients that boost potency — for example “Potency Honey” (TheColu.mn reported).
