Health Canada has issued an urgent warning after discovering bacteria, including Sphingomonas aquatilis/melonis, in a batch of unauthorized peptides seized from Sage & Summit Wellness Co., an Ottawa-based wellness store. The bacteria, typically found in water, soil, and plants, can cause severe infections, hospitalization, and potentially fatal sepsis when introduced into the bloodstream through injection.
The contaminated products included BPC-157, promoted for injury recovery, and retatrutide, a weight-loss injection developed by Eli Lilly. Neither peptide has been approved for medical use in Canada or the United States. The seized vials were not manufactured or tested to meet safety and quality standards for human use, with some labeled "For Research Purposes Only."
Peptides, short chains of amino acids, have gained popularity through wellness influencers promoting them for anti-aging, muscle recovery, and tissue repair. While some approved peptides, like GLP-1 agonists Ozempic and Wegovy, are regulated as prescription medications for conditions such as diabetes and obesity, unauthorized versions pose significant health risks. These risks include hormonal imbalances, liver and kidney damage, blood clots, and cancerous growths due to incorrect dosages, undisclosed ingredients, or harmful contaminants.
Health officials advise individuals who have used unauthorized peptides and experienced side effects like chills or fever to seek immediate medical attention. Consumers are strongly urged to avoid purchasing these products and to discard any they may already possess.
This incident follows a separate seizure by Health Canada last Friday of over 11,400 vials of various peptides, imported by Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co. and marketed online. Tests on some of those products also revealed bacterial contamination.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also issued warning letters in late August to online sellers marketing unapproved peptides like retatrutide, noting that despite labels stating "experimental" or "for research use," dosing and injection instructions indicated they were intended for human consumption. Health Canada stated it will continue to seize unauthorized peptides and disrupt supply chains, working with the Canada Border Services Agency to prevent illegal shipments from entering the country.