Following up on a warning issued by the Hong Kong Department of Health, Health Canada is warning Canadians to avoid Sweet Energizer Vitality Candy.

The candy, which is promoted as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, was found to contain an unauthorized substance similar to the prescription drug tadalafil.

Tadalafil should only be used under medical supervision and can cause side-effects that include heart attack, hypertension, vision loss and abdominal pain.

The products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not yet been found in the Canadian marketplace, according to Health Canada. But it is possible that the candy may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet, Health Canada said.

Heath Canada is advising that individuals with access to the product not use it and to consult a health professional if they already have and experienced side-effects.

Recall notice