SINGAPORE — A product marketed as candy with claims of male sexual enhancement effects has been found to contain tadalafil — a potent prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Kingu Ginseng Candy was sold on multiple local e-commerce platforms, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Friday (April 12).

"SFA has worked with various online e-commerce platforms to remove the listings of the product and issued warnings to the respective sellers to refrain from selling the product with immediate effect."

Consumers are advised not to purchase or consume the product, said the agency.

Those who have consumed the implicated product and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.

Checks by CNA found that the product was previously listed on Shopee and Lazada, but those listings have since been taken down.

Images of the product provided by SFA show that Kingu Ginseng Candy is manufactured in Malaysia. The product, whose ingredients include coffee and ginseng extract, is individually wrapped and sold in a yellow container.

WHAT IS TADALAFIL

Tadalafil is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be given under medical supervision, said SFA.

Inappropriate use of tadalafil is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate as well as priapism, also known as painful and prolonged erections.

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

The medication may cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure in those who are on heart medications, especially those containing nitrates, the agency added.

SFA advised consumers to be cautious and mindful of the risks associated with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources. They are also advised to seek more information before purchasing the products.

The agency added that it will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against those who sell and supply food products that are found to be adulterated with banned substances or potent ingredients.

Those found guilty face a fine not exceeding S$5,000.

If there is a second or subsequent conviction, a person may be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to three months, or both. CNA