LUSAKA – A popular energy drink known as Power Natural High Energy Drink SX has been banned in some parts of Africa. Uganda is however among the countries that import this highly-controversial drink.
According to reliable reports by UK’s Guardian newspaper, Zambia recently banned the energy drink after it was shown to have been adulterated with Viagra.
This followed reports by local authorities that reveal how the drink causes abnormal erections that can last up to six hours.
The drink which is exported to various African countries such as Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe is manufactured in Zambia by Revin Zambia Ltd. The company could not immediately be reached for comment on the ban.
Uganda’s medicine regulator National Drugs Authority (NDA) in a letter dated 28, December 2018 also confirmed that it had made similar findings after a customer complained of constant sweating and a stiff six-hour erection.
Power Natural High Energy Drink SX was removed from shops and pharmacy shelves in Zambia after complaints by the industry regulator.
The ban followed a complaint from the country’s medicine regulator in December suggesting the Power Natural High Energy Drink SX had been spiked with erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.
According to the guardian newspaper, Zambia recently ordered the producer to withdraw the drink after laboratory tests showed that it certainly contained Sildenafil Citrate, which has the brand name Viagra.
Sildenafil is an active ingredient in oral therapy for erectile dysfunction in men and should only be available on prescription, according to the regulator.
“Results from both Zimbabwe and South Africa correlated with those obtained from the Foods and Drugs Laboratory that indicated a positive presence of Sildenafil Citrate,” it noted.
Zambia has suspended the production of the drink until remedial measures are put in place to ensure that it is not adulterated, the statement revealed.
In January this year, Malawi also banned the drink following tests conducted at its drug quality control laboratory after safety concerns were raised in Zambia and Uganda.
Natural Power Energy Drink SX is very popular among African men especially in Zambia, where it’s produced.
The drink is sold in 500ml plastic cans, mostly in supermarkets and bars.
