OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan 3, 2014) -

The issue:

Alive Health Centre, in consultation with Health Canada, is voluntarily recalling two lots of its natural health product Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg due to contamination with chloramphenicol, an antibiotic that may pose serious health risks to consumers. Chloramphenicol is associated with a rare risk of aplastic anemia, a serious blood disorder that can be fatal. This reaction is unpredictable and not related to a specific dose of chloramphenicol.

Chloramphenicol is a prescription drug and should only be used under medical supervision in adults and children after careful consideration of the risks associated with it use. Other side effects that can be associated with chloramphenicol include allergic reactions in people who have sensitivity to the medication, and effects on the bone marrow leading to decreased blood cells. In addition, it should not be used by pregnant or lactating women.

Who is affected:

Canadians who have used this product.

What consumers should do:

- Consult your healthcare practitioner immediately if you have used this product.

- Report any adverse events using this product to Health Canada.

- Contact Alive Health Centre at 1-604-263-3235 to return the product.

What Health Canada is doing:

Health Canada is monitoring the recall of Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg by Alive Health Centre.

Product Affected:

Alive Vitamins - Royal Jelly 1200 mg (NPN 80034337) Lots: 21211147 and 21203128

How to report side effects of health products to Health Canada:

- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345

- Visit MedEffect Canada's web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using social media tools.

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