Health Advisory
Don't use certain oral laxative mineral oil products in round white plastic bottles: Health Canada
April 28, 2006

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use several brands of oral laxative mineral oil packaged in round white plastic bottles. Recent information suggests that the oil may cause the bottle to degrade over time and may produce a potential cancer-causing agent.

The affected products are manufactured by R.W. Packaging of Winnipeg and are sold under the brand names Pure Standard Products, Regal, Encounter, Medicine Centre, People's, People's First, Pharmachoice, Pharmasave, Rexall, and Value Brand.

The white round plastic bottles have "HDPE" stamped on the bottom. The Drug Identification Numbers (DINs) for these mineral oil products are 00167681 (regular) and 01935348 (heavy) and can be found on the product label.

R.W. Packaging is recalling these products as a precautionary measure.

The possible risk of developing a cancer-causing agent is not present when the mineral oil is packaged in glass bottles or in colourless rectangular plastic bottles.

Although occasional use of these products poses a very minimal health risk, consumers who may have purchased these products are advised not to use them and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health due to the use of these products. Consumers should not discard these products until they have received guidance from their Municipal Government regarding their safe disposal.

To report a suspected adverse reaction with these or any other health product, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods:

CADRMP
Marketed Health Products Directorate
Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Email: cadrmp@hc-sc.gc.ca
Telephone: 866-234-2345
Facsimile: 866-678-6789