Zambia bans energy drink 'spiked' with Viagra

File photo: REUTERS/Mark Blinch.

File photo: REUTERS/Mark Blinch.

Published Mar 20, 2019

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LUSAKA - Zambia banned an energy drink

on Wednesday after it was shown to have been adulterated with

the male sex booster Viagra, according to authorities in Ndola,

the city of manufacture.

The prohibition followed a complaint from Zambia's medicine

regulator in December suggesting that the Power Natural High

Energy Drink SX had been spiked with Viagra.

The manufacturer, Revin Zambia Ltd, could not immediately be

reached for comment on the ban.

The drink is also exported to African countries such as

Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the manufacturer said last year.

The Uganda National Drug Authority said in a letter dated

Dec. 28, 2018 that it made similar findings after a customer

complained of constant sweating and a nearly six-hour erection.

Zambia had ordered the manufacturer to withdraw the drink

after tests showed it contained Sildenafil Citrata whose brand

name is Viagra, a Ndola local authority statement said.

Sildenafil is an active ingredient in oral therapy in

erectile dysfunction in men and should only be available on

prescription, the statement said.

"Results from both Zimbabwe and South Africa correlated with

those obtained from the Foods and Drugs Laboratory that

indicated a positive presence of Sildenafil Citrate," it said.

Zambia has also suspended the production of the drink until

remedial measures are put in place to ensure that it is not

adulterated, the statement said.

In January, Malawi banned the drink following tests

conducted at its drug quality control laboratory after safety

concerns were raised in Zambia and Uganda.

Natural Power Energy Drink SX is very popular among Zambian

men and is sold in 500 ml plastic cans, mostly in supermarkets

and bars. 

Reuters

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