Key Takeaways
- Health Canada seized over 11,400 vials of unauthorized injectable peptides contaminated with three types of bacteria
- The products came from supplier ERP Peptide and were sold by truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com, both now shut down
- Injecting contaminated products can cause serious infections and life-threatening sepsis, Health Canada warns
Health Canada Seizes 11,400 Vials of Contaminated Injectable Peptides Sold Online
Those Online Peptides Were Contaminated — 11,400 Vials Seized
Health Canada is warning Canadians away from unauthorized injectable peptides sold online after seizing over 11,400 vials found to be contaminated with bacteria.
Testing found three types of bacteria in the products:
- Acinetobacter seifertii
- Acinetobacter nosocomialis
- Propionibacterium (Cutibacterium) acnes
Injecting a contaminated product "can cause serious infections, hospitalization, and in severe cases, life-threatening sepsis," the agency warns, with higher risk for people whose immune systems are compromised.
The Products Came From Overseas and Were Sold Through Two Canadian Websites
The products were supplied by Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and sold in Canada through two online retailers, truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com.
Health Canada obtained court-issued entry warrants, seized the stock, and both websites are now inactive.
The agency has told ERP Peptide to stop selling into Canada and is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to block further shipments.
What Was Being Sold
The named products include human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), MOTS-C, NAD+, retatrutide, tesamorelin and tirzepatide.
None was ever assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness or quality.
Beyond contamination, the agency warns unauthorized injectables can carry risks including:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Blood sugar problems
- Liver or kidney damage
- Blood clots
- Growth of cancerous tumours
They may also contain the wrong dose, no active ingredient, or unlisted ingredients entirely.
What to Do If You Have Used These Products
Health Canada's advice is direct: do not buy or use these products.
If you have injected an unauthorized peptide and develop redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, fever or chills, seek medical attention immediately.
Prescription drugs should come only from licensed pharmacies, with an 8-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) you can verify in the Drug Product Database — and anything labelled "For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption" should never be injected.
The Twikup Take
The market for injectable peptides exploded on social media long before regulators could keep up, and this seizure shows what fills the gap: unassessed products, made overseas, contaminated with bacteria, sold through websites that vanish the moment enforcement arrives.
If a drug is worth injecting, it is worth buying from a licensed pharmacy with a DIN on the label.
Image: AI-generated illustration.