OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/22/11 -- The issue:
One bottle of the prenatal multivitamin Centrum Materna has been found to contain unidentified capsules instead of the proper Materna multivitamins, which are pink, oval-shaped tablets. The bottle was found on the shelf in a Shopper's Drug Mart in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in its sealed box with the seal on the bottle removed. Tampering is suspected.
At this time, this is the only incident of this type that Health Canada is aware of involving Centrum Materna multivitamins.
Who is affected:
Canadians who have purchased Centrum Materna multivitamins in the Winnipeg area.
What consumers should do:
- Inspect your bottle of Centrum Materna multivitamins to be sure the bottle contains the proper tablets and safety features (see below for pictures of what the product should look like and a description of the safety features). If in doubt, check with a pharmacist.
- Do not consume your product if it contains capsules and not tablets.
- Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have consumed this product and are concerned about your health.
- Contact the company, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (a division of Pfizer Canada Inc.), with any questions regarding this product: 1-877-334-6360 (English), 1-877-334-6367 (French).
- Submit complaints or concerns related to the safety, efficacy or quality of health products to Health Canada's Inspectorate, toll-free, at 1-800-267-9675.
- Report any adverse reaction potentially related to these products to Health Canada (see below).
What Health Canada is doing:
Health Canada is working with Pfizer and Shopper's Drug Mart to investigate the incident and will update Canadians with new information as it emerges, as appropriate.
Background:
Health Canada was notified of the suspected tampering by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association. It has not yet been determined how the suspected tampering occurred or what other products, if any, may be affected. The health risks of consuming the unidentified capsules are not known.
What Centrum Materna multivitamins should look like:
Bottles of Centrum Materna are closed with an aluminum seal with the words "sealed for your protection" printed in English and French in black ink, on the bottle neck. Bottles are packed with a child-resistant cap and sealed in a glued end carton.
For more information:
Consumers and health professionals wanting more information about this advisory from Health Canada can contact the Public Enquiries Line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
Media enquiries related to this Advisory should be directed to Health Canada Media Relations at 613-957-2983.
How to report side effects to health products:
To report suspected adverse reaction to these or other health products, please contact the Canada Vigilance Program of Health Canada toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/ar-ei_form-eng.php) and send to us using one of these methods:
-- Fax: 1-866-678-6789
-- E-mail: CanadaVigilance@hc-sc.gc.ca
-- Internet: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
-- Mail: Canada Vigilance Program
Marketed Health Products Directorate
Ottawa, ON, Address Locator 0701C
K1A 0K9
Related Health Canada Web content:
Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using these social media tools: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/home-accueil/sm-ms/index-eng.php
The photos of the product are available at the following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Materna.pdf
Egalement disponible en francais
Contacts:
Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
613-957-2983
Public Inquiries:
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
