SAI Advises on Recall of All Falcon Labs Products Due to Illegal Steroids and Stimulants

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today states it is initiating a recall of all Falcon Labs products due to the presence of illegal steroids and stimulants that pose a serious health risk to consumers and also, as the location of the production site cannot be determined and traceability of the products is unknown. The FSAI is advising consumers not to purchase or consume any Falcon Labs products as they are unfit for human consumption. It is also instructing distributors, retailers and online sellers to remove these products from sale. The Health Service Executive’s environmental health officers (EHOs), working on behalf of the FSAI, will be inspecting businesses to ensure that any Falcon Labs products found are seized, removed and detained.

FSAI officers took possession of Falcon labs products from a range of food supplements and sports nutrition shops, gyms and online suppliers across the country. The products were sent to the State Laboratory for official testing for a range of illegal steroids and stimulants. The results show that 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (1,3-DMAA) (also known as methylhexaneamine MHA), was detected in Falcon Labs OXYBURNPRO and SUPERCLEN products. Methasterone was detected in Falcon Labs SUPERDRIVE. 1,3-DMAA was not declared as an ingredient on any of the products and Methasterone was misspelt on the label of the product in which it was detected. Nonetheless, neither substance is permitted in food.

The FSAI warns that 1,3-DMAA is a stimulant that can cause acute temporary increase in blood pressure, which may lead to shortness of breath, tightening of the chest and the risk of heart attack or cerebral haemorrhage. 1,3-DMAA was previously authorised as a nasal decongestant, but later withdrawn. Methasterone is anabolic-androgenic steroid which has been associated with a number of cases of liver injury. It has never been authorised as a medicine, but has been found previously on the black market under the name Superdrol.

According to Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI any consumer who has taken these products and may be feeling unwell should seek immediate medical advice.

“We are advising all consumers who may have these Falcon Labs products not to consume them. These products are likely to contain illegal steroids and stimulants that are not safe for consumption and anyone taking them is taking a serious risk of jeopardising their health. We know from our investigation that the business address printed on the product label and on supplier invoices is not genuine. We are asking consumers who purchased any of these products to tell us where they purchased them, so that we can ensure all stock is removed from sale. In addition, anyone who may have information on who the supplier is can let us know confidentially by emailing foodincidents@fsai.ie.”

“This recall also serves as a reminder to all athletes using food supplements, in particular those intending to gain muscle or burn fat, that they should be satisfied with the reliability and integrity of the source of the products they are consuming”, added Dr Byrne.

The FSAI is instructing food businesses, including online retailers currently selling Falcon Labs products to immediately remove products from sale and contact their supervising environmental health officer or contact foodincidents@fsai.ie, so that remaining stock can be removed from sale. Food businesses that have sold Falcon Labs products to consumers must display a point-of-sale notice in store and on their website, if sold online, to inform consumers that the products are being recalled and the reason why.

The FSAI is working closely with the Environmental Health Service of the HSE, the State Laboratory, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and Sport Ireland in relation to these products. There have been two publicly reported rulings by Sport Ireland against athletes who tested positive for banned substances and who said they consumed Falcon Labs food supplements. The FSAI previously issued a recall and press release on DMAA in food supplements in 2012.

Recall of Falcon Labs Food Supplements due to Presence of Illegal Steroids and Stimulants and Lack of Traceability