Coffee product from Malaysia found to contain erectile dysfunction medication

 

SFA warned against buying or drinking Kopi Penumbuk, which is marketed on e-commerce platforms as a coffee product with claims of male sexual enhancement effects. (SFA Facebook pic)

SINGAPORE: 

Kopi Penumbuk, a coffee product from Malaysia, has been found to contain tadalafil, a potent prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction that should only be administered under medical supervision, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said.

It advised consumers against purchasing or consuming the product, which is marketed on local e-commerce platforms as a coffee product with claims of male sexual enhancement effects.

“SFA has worked with various online e-commerce platforms to remove listings of the product and issued warnings to the respective sellers to refrain from selling the product with immediate effect,” it said in a statement today.

It said inappropriate use of tadalafil is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate, and priapism.

It can also pose serious risks to certain individuals, including those with heart-related problems.

“They (such products) can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure in those who are on heart medications, especially those containing nitrates,” the agency said.

The sale of unsafe food is not permitted under Section 15 of Singapore’s Sale of Food Act.

If found guilty, individuals face a fine not exceeding S$5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both. - FMT