Be Careful of Health Supplementary Food Called Viagra

The prosecution has launched an investigation since it was reported that the great amount of health supplementary food, which may have negative side-effect due to the excessive viagra ingredient, is being circulated in the market.

The criminal investigation second division (Shin Man-Sung, chief public prosecutor) in Seoul district is investigating the chairperson of a health supplementary food company in charge of circulating the health supplementary food made of Chinese made viagra ingredient.

According to the prosecution, this food company made the health supplementary food with major ingredient of viagra (sildenafil citrate), which was made in China, by mixing schisandra chinensis, and illegally sold it at 30,000 won without attaching ingredients label. The prosecution asked for the ingredient analysis to the Korea Food and Drug Administration to determine the harmfulness of the seized products.

An official of the prosecution said that ``only two kinds of viagra –25 mg and 50 mg- are allowed for the sale according to the doctor`s prescription in the domestic. But, some of the similar products contained more than these.``

It is known that if patients with heart or liver disease or elders eat the food which contains an excessive amount of sildenafil citrate, they may experience negative side-effects, such as shock or angina pectoris.

Min Dong-Yong mindy@donga.com