2019-2020 Compliance Monitoring Project: Testing natural health products used for workout purposes
Health Canada actively monitors the compliance of regulated parties and health products in Canada.
We tested 25 natural health products (NHPs) meant for workout purposes from different brands between September 2019 and February 2020. Learn about how we conducted our project, what we found and what actions we took.
On this page
- Why workout NHPs were tested
- Which tests were performed
- What we found and what actions we took
- What we will do with the results
- For more information
Why workout NHPs were tested
Many people in Canada use NHPs as part of their daily workout routine. Health Canada’s current quality oversight for these types of products is based on attestation. Licence holders of these products must confirm to Health Canada that their product meets regulatory requirements before it can be sold in Canada. Health Canada has identified these products as an area of interest because we continue to find products on the Canadian market that do not meet Canada’s regulatory requirements.
Through the compliance monitoring project, we were able to gain more insight on the quality of these types of NHPs that are sold in Canada.
Before an NHP can be sold legally in Canada, it must:
- have a product licence issued by Health Canada, which is represented on the label by either an 8-digit natural product number (NPN) or homeopathic medicine number (DIN-HM)
- be manufactured, labelled and packaged according to the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR)
A licence holder of an NHP must meet the regulatory requirements under the NHPR. Before NHPs can be sold in Canada, it must comply with its specifications such as the product’s medicinal ingredients, quantity, potency (if applicable) and product purity.
Health Canada launched this compliance monitoring project to verify the quality of licensed products meant for workout purposes on the Canadian market. These include products that:
- are a workout supplement or provide athletic support
- provide a source of protein to help build and repair body tissues
- help to repair muscle cells after exercise
- increase physical performance during intense exercise
We tested products bought at various retail locations across Canada.
Which tests were performed
Acceptable product specifications are found in the Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
We tested the products for the following:
- microbiological contaminants
- bacteria, yeast or mould shouldn’t be in the product
- heavy metal contaminants
- arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and other contaminants shouldn’t be in the product above the allowed limit
- certain known and common adulterants
- an ingredient, such as a drug substance, that has been added to the product, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, but shouldn’t be there (for example, a drug substance may be added to a product to increase its effects)
- quantity of caffeine (in those products containing caffeine)
- the allowable range is between 80% and 120% of the quantity of caffeine listed on the label
What we found and what actions we took
Of the 25 products tested:
- 18 products met the specific requirements (see the “Which tests were performed” section above)
- 7 products did not meet the specific requirements:
- 4 did not pass because they had more or less caffeine than their product licence specified
- 1 did not pass because it had more lead than the allowed limit
- 2 did not pass because of the presence of a suspected pathogen, a bacteria called Clostridium sp.
Based on our findings and the level of risk to health, we took appropriate enforcement action. This included asking that 3 products not be sold. For the 4 products where the risk was low (level of caffeine is not likely to cause any adverse health consequences), the product licence holders were responsible to put corrective measures in place to fix the problem. They also had to ensure that they meet the regulatory requirements going forward. We followed up to confirm that these companies had taken appropriate action to meet the licensing requirements.
Health Canada results confirmed through this review are specific to the lot tested (see Table 1).
| Product name | NPN lot Number | Product licence holder | Where it was bought | Results | Actions taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Achieve |
80061456 Lot # 469 |
More Sports | Shop Santé (QC) | The quantity of caffeine found in the product was below the allowable range. | We informed the company of the issues we noted. The level of caffeine detected was slightly outside the allowable range, and were not likely to cause any adverse health consequences. As a result, no action on the product was required. The company must ensure that they meet the regulatory requirements going forward. |
Allmax Beta Alanine |
80033684 Lot # 317107-01 |
Healthy Body Services Inc. | Nutrition House (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Bcaa |
80062049 Lot # 0418055 |
Pro Circuit High Tech Nutrition Inc. | Jean Coutu (QC) | Suspected pathogen isolated (Clostridium sp., species unknown) | We informed the company of the issues we noted. At Health Canada’s request, the company stopped sale of the lot as a precaution. |
Berserk |
80074586 No lot number |
Predator Labs | Minotaure Nutrition (QC) | Suspected pathogen isolated (Clostridium sp., species unknown) | We informed the company of the issues we noted. At Health Canada’s request, the company stopped sale of the lot as a precaution. |
Bodylogix Natural Pre-Workout (Iced Tea) |
80054502 Lot # 9A264R1 |
The Winning Combination Inc. | Popeye’s Supplements (MB) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
C4 Sport |
80059154 Lot # S249BA |
Nutrabolt Distribution Canada ULC | Rexall (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Devil's Jampak |
80055152 Lot # 73205 |
BNI Supplements Inc. | Boutique Physimax (QC) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
E-Nos 2.0 |
80088571 Lot # A1907493 |
Athletic - Therapeutic - Pharma (ATP) | Équilibre Performance Nutrition (QC) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Energy + Burner |
80084551 Lot # 73270 |
Believe Supplements | Popeye’s Supplements (QC) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
GNC L-Carnitine |
80042626 Lot # 1929101 |
General Nutrition Centres (GNC) Canada | GNC (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
High Performance Sport Mix |
80026421 Lot # 09618BSHL |
BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc. | Popeye’s Supplements (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Iron Kingdom Pre-Workout (Pineapple Mango) |
80080734 Lot # 07319IKPM |
Double D Sports Nutrition | GNC (MB) | The quantity of lead found in the product was over the allowed limit. | The company was requested to stop sale and recall the lot. The lot was sold to only 1 customer who confirmed a stop sale. We confirmed the company has taken appropriate action to meet licensing requirements. |
Ketogenic Performance Fuel |
80080438 Lot # 33818AKFL |
Advanced Nutraceutical Sciences Inc. | Popeye’s Supplements (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Magnum Opus Extreme Intra-Workout (Juicy Watermelon) |
80055777 Lot # 44471A |
Magnum Nutraceuticals Inc. | Popeye’s Supplements (MB) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Mammoth Burn |
80069261 Lot # 32418IMBP |
INutrition Inc. | GNC (ON) | The quantity of caffeine found in the product was above the allowable range. | We informed the company of the issues we noted. The level of caffeine detected was slightly outside the allowable range, and were not likely to cause any adverse health consequences. As a result, no action on the product was required. The company must ensure that they meet the regulatory requirements going forward. |
MR-T Testosterone Catalyst v1.0 |
80063322 Lot # 18270A |
Athletic Alliance Sports Supplements Inc. | GNC (MB) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
North Coast Naturals Fermented BCAA |
80070859 Lot # 52096 |
Fit Foods Ltd. | Nutters Everyday Naturals (AB) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Nutrabolics Carnibolic (Iced Raspberry) |
80060202 Lot # 94764A |
Nutrabolics Inc. | Popeye’s Supplements (MB) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Precision Extreme Meltdown 8 in 1 |
80057124 Lot # 1824537 |
Body Plus Nutritional Products Inc. | Popeye’s Supplements (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Preset |
80072144 Lot # 71125 |
9231-6124 Québec Inc. | Shop Santé (QC) | The quantity of caffeine found in the product was above the allowable range. | We informed the company of the issues we noted. The level of caffeine detected was slightly outside the allowable range, and were not likely to cause adverse health consequences. As a result, no action on the product was required. The company must ensure that they meet the regulatory requirements going forward. |
Six Star Pre-Workout Ripped |
80070921 Lot # R9906 |
Iovate Health Sciences International Inc. | Rexall (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
tc nutrition Batch 27 (Blue Slushie) |
80086112 Lot # 190833 |
TC Nutrition Inc. | Gorilla Jack (MB) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
White Paper Performance Supplements Metabolic Formula |
80075673 Lot # WPMF176 |
White Paper Performance Supplements | Reflex Nutrition Supplements (AB) | The quantity of caffeine found in the product was above the allowable range. | We informed the company of the issues we noted. The level of caffeine detected was slightly outside the allowable range, and were not likely to cause adverse health consequences. As a result, no action on the product was required. The company must ensure that they meet the regulatory requirements going forward. |
Xframe |
80068504 Lot # 170011 |
Fusion Nutrition Inc. | Good Health Mart (ON) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
Xpn Warning |
80069352 Lot # 25710 |
Xtrem Performance Nutrition | Équilibre Performance Nutrition (QC) | The testing results met the specific requirements of the tests performed. | No action taken. |
What will we do with the results
We use what we learn from the compliance monitoring project to:
- give better guidance to the industry on how to meet the regulatory requirements
- improve the quality and safety of products in Canada
- help us improve our regulatory oversight of NHPs, including site licensing
Although we only tested a small number of products, we were able to collect information on the quality of products licensed as workout NHPs in Canada. We will continue to inform the people of Canada on our proactive monitoring activities.
This compliance monitoring project on NHPs helped inform our implementation of a good manufacturing practices (GMP) inspection program pilot for NHPs in 2021. The pilot is an in-depth assessment of the NHP GMP requirements. GMPs have an impact on product quality. The objective of the pilot is to strengthen compliance of the NHP industry with regulatory requirements. Increased compliance with regulatory requirements protects the health and safety of the people in Canada by ensuring NHPs are safe, effective and of high quality. A dedicated NHP GMP inspection program may be developed following the completion and evaluation of the pilot.
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