Health Canada warns of bacteria in unauthorized peptides sold online

Health Canada is warning consumers not to use or inject unauthorized peptides after lab testing found bacteria in products sold online. The warning was issued in a public advisory dated Nov. 06, 2026.

In Canada, injectable peptides are generally regulated as prescription drugs. Authorized peptide drugs should only be used under the care of a licensed healthcare professional, such as a doctor, to treat specific conditions.

Health Canada seized and tested unauthorized injectable peptides from Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (ERP Peptide) and found bacteria such as Acinetobacter seifertii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis, and Propionibacterium (Cutibacterium) acnes. Injecting contaminated products can cause serious infections, hospitalization, and in severe cases, life-threatening sepsis. The risk of infection is higher in people with a compromised immune system.

The Department identified two Canadian online retailers, truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com, selling products from ERP Peptide. Health Canada obtained court-issued entry warrants, seized unauthorized drug products from the two retailers, and – as a result of compliance and enforcement action – the websites are no longer active.

In total, Health Canada seized over 11,400 vials from ERP Peptide and the two online retailers.

Unauthorized products sold by ERP Peptide include Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, MOTS-C, NAD+, Retatrutide, Tesamorelin and Tirzepatide.

"Selling unauthorized drug products is illegal. Unauthorized products have not been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality by Health Canada. They have not been demonstrated, through scientific trials, to provide the health benefits that they claim," Health Canada said.

While unauthorized peptides are often promoted for weight loss, muscle growth, anti-aging, or wellness, they may expose you to significant and unpredictable health risks. Those risks can include hormonal imbalance, mood swings, blood sugar imbalance, liver or kidney damage, blood clots, and growth of cancerous tumours, the health agency said.

Unauthorized drugs are also not tested for safety, quality, or sterility. As a result, products may contain too little or too much of the active ingredient, use dangerous or unknown ingredients, lead to allergic reactions or medical interactions, or contain solvents, heavy metals, particles of glass and plastic, or microbials.

Health Canada said it has requested ERP Peptide to immediately stop selling illegal products into Canada and is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop unauthorized shipments from entering the country.

The agency is encouraging consumers to stop buying these products. If you have used them and develop a fever or pain and swelling at the injection site, Health Canada said to seek immediate medical attention. The public advisory adds that symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain at the injection site, fever, chills or feeling unwell may be signs of a serious infection.

Health Canada advises consumers to only buy prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies and to check labels, as authorized drugs for sale in Canada have an 8-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) printed on the label. Consumers can also check whether a drug has been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database. The agency also advises not to use drugs that are labelled "For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption."

Health Canada will continue to take enforcement action, including product seizures, testing and disrupting distribution channels, to remove these products from the Canadian market and protect Canadians from preventable harm.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.