Group Importing and Selling Honey Containing Erectile Dysfunction Medication... Five Times the Safe Amount 'Dangerous'

Fake Viagra seized by customs [Photo by Asia Economy]

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A group that imported honey products containing a large amount of erectile dysfunction treatment ingredients and sold them as natural honey has been caught and handed over to the prosecution.

On the 30th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) sent a group that sold honey products containing erectile dysfunction treatment ingredients to the prosecution on charges of violating the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control. The MFDS reported that two people, including Kang, imported 5,063 boxes (608 kg) of honey products containing 'Tadalafil,' an erectile dysfunction treatment ingredient not allowed for use in food, without import notification from April 2019 to October 2022. It was investigated that they distributed and sold 3,380 boxes worth about 130 million KRW among these.

The tadalafil contained in the products they sold was 54.8 mg per packet, which is 5.48 times the amount of tadalafil (10 mg) contained in one tablet of Cialis, an erectile dysfunction treatment drug approved in Korea. The problem is that tadalafil, as a prescription drug ingredient, can cause side effects such as headache, indigestion, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmia, angina, and cardiovascular bleeding when taken. Because of this, some buyers of the products actually complained of side effects such as fever and dizziness after consumption. However, Kang and his group promoted these symptoms as normal reactions occurring during the immune system generation process and continued selling the products.

Kang and others purchased the products through overseas direct purchase and declared the items as beverages to customs. They also illegally imported them into Korea by receiving them at multiple locations using other people's names. The MFDS stated, "When customs notified them to supplement documents during the customs declaration process and held clearance, they forged import invoices by changing quantities and submitted them."

Earlier in 2022, the MFDS registered the product on the list of hazardous foods for overseas direct purchase based on information that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the product's risk and banned its distribution and sale. However, the MFDS received reports that imported honey containing erectile dysfunction treatment ingredients was being distributed online and launched an investigation in April last year.

The MFDS urged that if anyone has purchased and stored this product, they should not consume it and immediately dispose of it.

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