Popular Male Enhancement Chocolates and Honey Recalled Over 'Life-Threatening' Secret Ingredient
Two companies have recalled their popular male enhancement products, the FDA announced.
Gear Isle has voluntarily recalled its Gold Lion Aphrodisiac Chocolate Male Enhancement Sachet and ilum Sex Chocolate Male Sexual Enhancement Booster for containing undeclared amounts of sildenafil and tadalafil — commonly known as Viagra and Cialis, respectively.
The products, sold online, promise "more desirable, exciting, and pleasurable" sex on their packaging without any detail as to how it happens. It turns out that the "aphrodisiac" is really the aforementioned pharmaceuticals, which increase blood flow to the penis and allow for longer-lasting erections.
However, these drugs are not without risk. Per the FDA, "the active ingredient may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may cause a significant drop in blood pressure that may be life-threatening." Nitrates are often used to treat heart conditions. Amyl nitrate, commonly known as "poppers" and often used during sex, can also create a potentially fatal blood pressure drop when combined with sildenafil or tadalafil.
Another company, Pure Vitamins and Natural Supplements, has issued a voluntary recall of its male enhancement honey after FDA lab analysis found the same active ingredients hidden in its products. The recalled products, sold in single-serving tubes, include Boner Bears Honey, Red Bull Extreme, and Blue Bull Extreme.
Black market male enhancement goods are often sold in gas stations and drug stores across the U.S. Because they are sold as nutritional supplements, they're unregulated and can pose dangerous risk to unsuspecting buyers. "Drugs by definition can be dangerous, and with too high a level you can have side effects," Dr. Myriam Malet-Martino told Consumer Reports. "People are not aware that they are taking a prescription drug."
The FDA urges buyers of the chocolate or honey products to discard them or return them for a refund.