Health Canada warning : Stop using products manufactured by Konsar Future Nutrition Inc.101 product licences suspended

Products may be sold under the following brand names (this list may not be complete):

• Athltx Science
• Elle Factor Weight Management
• Future Nutrition
• Humabolic Science
• MVP Biotech
• MVP Laboratories
• MVP Lifestyle
• MVP Nutrition
• PHP Edge
• Xtreme Lifestyle

A complete list of the 101 product licences that Health Canada suspended can be found by searching the Licensed Natural Health Products Database(under “Search Field,” choose “Licence Holder,” and under “Search Criterion” enter “Konsar Future Nutrition”).

Health products manufactured by Konsar Future Nutrition Inc. may pose serious health risks
Report a Concern
Starting date:May 29, 2019
Type of communication:Information Update
Subcategory:Natural health products
Source of recall:Health Canada
Issue:Important Safety Information
Audience:General Public
Identification number:RA-70049

Last updated: 2019-05-29

Issue

Health Canada is warning Canadians that all products manufactured by Konsar Future Nutrition Inc. may pose serious health risks. Health Canada inspected the manufacturing site (located in Dollard‑des‑Ormeaux, Quebec) and found serious unsanitary conditions and quality control issues. As a result, Health Canada has suspended the company’s site licence and all 101 of its product licences, which means the company is no longer permitted to manufacture or sell its products in Canada.

The product licences were for a range of natural health products, mainly vitamins and supplements for health and fitness, bodybuilding and weight management. The products may be labelled as “manufactured by Konsar Future Nutrition Inc.” and sold under various brand names (see list below).

Problems found at the site include widespread unsanitary conditions, such as rust on the equipment and cracks in the walls and floors. In addition, the Department found a lack of adequate quality control measures to ensure product quality and safety, including a lack of measures related to product testing, product stability (shelf life), and record-keeping.

At Health Canada’s request, the manufacturer has stopped selling its products and has been asked to recall all of them. Given the company’s poor record-keeping, it is possible that it will not be able to contact all customers to notify them of the recall of its products, and stock may still be available at some retail stores and online. As a result, Health Canada is advising retail and online sellers that the sale of these products is illegal. Health Canada encourages Canadians to use the Department’s online complaint form to report any information regarding the continued sale of the affected products.

Who is affected

• Consumers who have bought or used the affected products.

Affected products

Products may be sold under the following brand names (this list may not be complete):

• Athltx Science
• Elle Factor Weight Management
• Future Nutrition
• Humabolic Science
• MVP Biotech
• MVP Laboratories
• MVP Lifestyle
• MVP Nutrition
• PHP Edge
• Xtreme Lifestyle

A complete list of the 101 product licences that Health Canada suspended can be found by searching the Licensed Natural Health Products Database(under “Search Field,” choose “Licence Holder,” and under “Search Criterion” enter “Konsar Future Nutrition”).

What consumers should do

• Stop using products manufactured by Konsar Future Nutrition Inc. To check if your product is manufactured by this company, read the label, or enter the eight-digit Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label in the Licensed Natural Health Product Database.
• Consult your health care professional if you have used any of these products and have health concerns.
• Report any health product-related adverse reactions or complaints to Health Canada.

What companies selling these products should do

• Stop selling products manufactured by this company. It is illegal to sell natural health products whose licences have been suspended.

What Health Canada is doing

Health Canada has suspended the company’s site licence and all its product licences. At Health Canada’s request, the company has agreed to stop manufacturing and selling all its health products. Health Canada has also asked the company to recall all its products.

Should additional safety concerns be identified related to this issue, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as necessary.

Background

It is illegal to sell natural health products and conduct activities such as manufacturing, packaging and labelling of natural health products in Canada without the appropriate product authorization and site licensing from Health Canada. A product licence indicates that a natural health product has been assessed by Health Canada for safety, efficacy and quality. A site licence indicates that a company has processes and procedures in place that meet Health Canada’s requirements to track and recall natural health products. The licence also indicates that the company is manufacturing, packaging and labelling natural health products in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (a standard that helps to ensure the quality of health products sold to Canadians).

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

‘Best if Used By’ Initiative By The FDA Aims To Reduce Current $162 Billion A Year Food Waste In America

The FoodKeeper App

We Americans manage to waste food to the tune of $162 billion a year. Some of those are related to the misunderstanding of ‘Used By,’ “use before,” “sell by,” or “expires on.” labels on food. These labels are used is to inform consumers and retailers of the date up to which they can expect the food to retain its desired quality and flavor.
The FDA is working with federal partners and other stakeholders to help consumers better understand the variety of actions they can take to reduce food waste, like adopting ‘Best if Used By’ (this is much better) labels on food packaging.

“Imagine this: You go to your favorite supermarket and come out with three bags full of groceries. Before you get in your car, you toss one of those bags in the garbage. Sound ridiculous? Of course it does, but that’s in essence what food waste looks like every day across our country,” says Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response.

“Reducing food waste is a shared responsibility, and consumers have an especially important role to play, The FDA is committed to providing the information they need to make safe and sound decisions for their family. Food is too important to waste. We expect that over time, the number of various date labels will be reduced as industry aligns on this ‘Best if Used By’ terminology,This change is already being adopted by many food producers.” continued Yiannas.

The FDA is working with federal partners and other stakeholders to help consumers better understand the variety of actions they can take to reduce food waste. The FDA’s Food Waste and Loss page links to resources from the FDA, EPA and USDA.

Other ways to reduce waste include:

•    Refrigerate peeled or cut vegetables for freshness, quality and safety.
•    Use the freezer as your friend. It’s a great way to store many foods to retain their quality until you are ready to eat them.
•     Avoid bulk and impulse purchases, especially of produce and dairy products that have a limited shelf life.
•     When eating out, if you’re not terribly hungry, request smaller portions. Bring your leftovers home, and refrigerate or freeze them within two hours.

According to Kevin Smith, Senior Advisor for Food Safety in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the “Best if Used By” labels you see on packaged foods relate to the quality of the product, but that predicting when a food will no longer be of adequate quality for consumption is not an exact science.

Download the above chart and print (PDF) 
‘Best if Used By’ Initiative By The FDA Aims To Reduce Current $162 Billion A Year Food Waste In America

FDA Press Release;

Between the food industry and consumers, Americans are throwing out about a third of our food — about $161 billion worth each year.

“Imagine this: You go to your favorite supermarket and come out with three bags full of groceries. Before you get in your car, you toss one of those bags in the garbage. Sound ridiculous? Of course it does, but that’s in essence what food waste looks like every day across our country,” says Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response.

Consumer uncertainty about the meaning of the dates that appear on the labels of packaged foods is believed to contribute to about 20 percent of food waste in the home. That’s not surprising when you consider the variety of terms used with date labels, such as “use before,” “sell by,” “expires on,” and many more.

To help dispel this confusion, the FDA is supporting the food industry’s efforts to standardize the use of the term “Best if Used By” on its packaged-food labeling if the date is simply related to optimal quality — not safety. Studies have shown that this best conveys to consumers that these products do not have to be discarded after the date if they are stored properly. “We expect that over time, the number of various date labels will be reduced as industry aligns on this ‘Best if Used By’ terminology,” says Yiannas. “This change is already being adopted by many food producers.”

The FDA’s efforts are part of a White House initiative called Winning on Reducing Food Waste. And part of this collaboration between the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture involves educating consumers on ways to reduce food loss and waste, and how to do it safely without risking illness from consuming spoiled food.

Most Date Labels Are Not Based on Exact Science

Manufacturers generally apply date labels at their own discretion and for a variety of reasons. The most common is to inform consumers and retailers of the date up to which they can expect the food to retain its desired quality and flavor. The key exception to this general rule is for infant formula products. These products are required to bear a “Use By” date, up to which the manufacturer has confirmed that the product contains no less than a minimum amount of each nutrient identified on the product label, and that the product will be of an acceptable quality.

Date labels are generally not required on packaged foods. While manufacturers are prohibited from placing false or misleading information on a label, they are not required to obtain agency approval of the voluntary quality-based date labels they use or specify how they arrived at the date they’ve applied.

According to Kevin Smith, Senior Advisor for Food Safety in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the “Best if Used By” labels you see on packaged foods relate to the quality of the product, but that predicting when a food will no longer be of adequate quality for consumption is not an exact science.

Smith advises consumers to routinely examine foods in their kitchen cabinets or pantry that are past their “Best if Used By” date to determine if the quality is sufficient for use. If the products have changed noticeably in color, consistency or texture, consumers may want to avoid eating them.

Additionally, there are resources available online for consumers with questions about how long to keep perishable foods, including meat, seafood and dairy products:

• The FoodKeeper App, designed to promote understanding of food and beverage storage to maximize freshness and quality.
• The Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart on page 4 of the FDA’s Food Facts brochure, providing more information about which products to refrigerate or freeze, and for how long.

Waste Not: Advice on How to Reduce Food Waste

The FDA is working with federal partners and other stakeholders to help consumers better understand the variety of actions they can take to reduce food waste. The FDA’s Food Waste and Loss page links to resources from the FDA, EPA and USDA.

Other ways to reduce waste include:

• Refrigerate peeled or cut vegetables for freshness, quality and safety.
• Use the freezer as your friend. It’s a great way to store many foods to retain their quality until you are ready to eat them.
• Avoid bulk and impulse purchases, especially of produce and dairy products that have a limited shelf life.
• When eating out, if you’re not terribly hungry, request smaller portions. Bring your leftovers home, and refrigerate or freeze them within two hours.

For more tips, visit the FDA’s Tips to Avoid Food Waste page.

“Reducing food waste is a shared responsibility, and consumers have an especially important role to play,” says Yiannas. “The FDA is committed to providing the information they need to make safe and sound decisions for their family. Food is too important to waste.”