Malawian authorities have banned the importation and selling of Zambia-produced Revin Tangawizi Drink and Revin Natural Power SX High Energy Drink for containing Sildenafil Citrat, an erectile dysfunction drug.
Recently, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported that the company suspended production after a Ugandan consumer complained of a prolonged erection and profuse sweating.
This prompted MBS, in conjunction with the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board, to conduct analytical tests which have revealed that the drinks are adulterated with Sildenafil Citrate, a pharmaceutical ingredient, a prescription drug.
In a joint press statement made available to Business News yesterday, the two institutions say if taken without proper diagnosis, Sildenafil Citrate has severe life-threatening adverse effects that include abnormally raised or lowered blood pressure, prolonged painful erection, heart attack, respiratory depression, blurred vision, nose bleeding, intense sweating and chronic heart failure, among others.
Reads the statement: “This implies that presence of this medicine in the above stated energy drinks poses a health hazard to unsuspecting consumers.”
MBS has, therefore, ordered Revin Malawi Limited and Gatbro International Limited to recall all the products of the brands that are on the market and to declare with evidence the quantities of the brands that were imported into the country, supplied to the market and recalled.
The companies have also been ordered to dispose of the recalled products including stock not on market and inform consumers on the measures to be undertaken to address any risks associated with consumption of the products.
MBS has also advised consumers to desist from buying and consuming the Natural Power SX energy drink and Revin Tangawizi drinks until further notice.
In an interview with AFP, Ravin Zambia general manger Vikas Kapoor said his company stopped making the drink earlier this month and launched an internal investigation.
“We have allowed the government or any of its agencies to conduct their own investigations as well, but as far as we know, the drink does not contain any drug,” he told AFP.
He said his company only started making the drink last year.
