Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health Colin Carrie (Oshawa, ON) announced changes to the classification of ten naturally sourced ingredients making them eligible for inclusion in natural health products. The 10 ingredients include minerals, oils and salts which are used in traditional medicine and in western natural health product formulations to maintain and improve health. These … Read more
On behalf of Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq (Nunavut), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance Shelly Glover (Saint-Boniface, MB) announced government funding under the National Anti-Drug Strategy for a project that will help prevent youth living in various Northern and Prairie communities from taking illicit drugs. Glover said that this prevention program helps youth make healthy decisions through … Read more
Health Canada is reminding women who are pregnant of the importance of food safety. During pregnancy, both the expecting mother and the unborn child are at an increased risk for foodborne illness. This is because a woman's immune system is weakened during pregnancy, making it harder to fight off infections. The unborn baby's immune system is … Read more
Health Canada has completed a safety review of drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives marketed under the brand names Yasmin and Yaz with respect to the risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism, or VTE). The review determined that drospirenone-containing birth control pills may be associated with a risk of blood clots that is 1.5 to three times higher than … Read more
Health Canada is advising Canadians that it has updated its list of unauthorized health products to include "Yanshiwang", "Jin Kong Fu" and "Chong Cao She Bian Zhuang Yang Dan." These products were removed from sale at Male and Female Harmony retail stores in Richmond and Burnaby, B.C., along with the Happy Paradise Adult Store in … Read more
In recognition of both Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day in Canada, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq (Nunavut) highlighted on-going efforts against HIV and AIDS while remembering those affected by the disease in a video address to Aboriginal leaders and members from the HIV/AIDS community. Aglukkaq said that Aboriginal people continue to be identified as one … Read more
An unauthorized health product, "Stiff One Hard 169" is being voluntarily recalled from the Canadian market after Health Canada's testing identified an undeclared prescription medication in the product (thiodimethylsildenafil, an undeclared substance similar to the prescription medication sildenafil). "Stiff One Hard 169" is being promoted as a dietary supplement and may pose serious risks to … Read more
Health Canada is advising Canadians of its decision to suspend authorization of Avastin for use in the treatment of a certain type of breast cancer (metastatic breast cancer). Based on careful review, Health Canada has concluded that Avastin (the brand name for the drug bevacizumab) has not been shown to be safe and effective in … Read more
Health Canada would like to remind Canadians that raw shellfish – such as oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles – can carry bacteria, viruses and toxins that can cause foodborne illness if they are not harvested, stored, handled or prepared appropriately. Health Canada said that if you wish to harvest shellfish yourself, make sure you … Read more
CooperVision, in consultation with Health Canada, is expanding the product list of their voluntary worldwide recall of contact lenses. Health Canada is working with the company to identify which products on the Canadian market are affected by the recall. This recall is due to the presence of a residue (silicone oil) on the lenses with … Read more
