Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized smoking cessation product Resolve because it contains an unacceptable amount of an ingredient labelled as "Cestemenol-350."

Consuming excessive amounts of this ingredient could lead to damaged kidneys, liver or red blood cells.

Resolve is advertised as a natural stop smoking aid, and is available in Cool Peppermint and Wild Cherry flavours. Distributed by The Winning Combination Inc., the products have been sold in retail stores across the country and are available over the internet.

Resolve is not authorized for sale here and Health Canada has asked the company to recall the products. The company has not complied, and Health Canada officials say they "will take further action to remove the product from the market."

Retailers are being advised to remove the product from their shelves. Consumers are being asked to return the product to the place of purchase.

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Drug Identification Number for Homeopathic Medicine (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers mean the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

For more information, contact Health Canada's public enquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.

Health Canada Advisory