Undeclared Sildenafil Prompts Recall of Twins Herbal Products 2026

Health Canada has classified a Type I recall — its most serious safety category — against two liquid herbal products sold in Ontario after laboratory testing revealed they secretly contained sildenafil, a prescription-only drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The recall, issued on August 25, 2026, targets ‘Twins Herbal Idakole’ and ‘Twins Herbal Pelorie’, both manufactured and distributed by Twins African Restaurant and Bar Inc. of Brampton, Ontario.

A Type I classification means there is a reasonable probability that using the product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death. Neither product carries a Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural Product Number (NPN), or Homeopathic Drug Number, meaning they were never authorized for sale in Canada in the first place.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The recall covers all lots of two liquid herbal products sold under the ‘Twins Herbal’ brand:

• Twins Herbal Idakole — liquid dosage form, all lot numbers affected
• Twins Herbal Pelorie — liquid dosage form, all lot numbers affected

Neither product lists a strength, and Health Canada notes that all lots currently on the market are subject to the recall since the products were never legally authorized to begin with.

What Went Wrong?

According to Health Canada, both products were sold without the required market authorization. Laboratory analysis found they contain undeclared sildenafil, a substance found on Canada’s prescription drug list. Because sildenafil affects blood pressure and can interact dangerously with nitrate medications commonly prescribed for heart conditions, consuming it unknowingly poses a real cardiovascular risk — particularly for people with underlying heart disease or those taking nitrate-based drugs.

Since these herbal liquids were marketed as natural products, consumers had no way of knowing they were ingesting a regulated prescription drug alongside whatever herbal ingredients the products claimed to contain.

Who Should Be Concerned?

Health Canada’s distribution notice lists Ontario as the affected region, and the recall’s depth extends to the retail level. If you purchased either Twins Herbal Idakole or Twins Herbal Pelorie from a retailer in Ontario, you should treat every bottle as part of this recall, regardless of when or where it was bought, since all lots are affected.

Anyone taking heart medication, particularly nitrates, faces heightened risk if they have used either product, as the interaction with undeclared sildenafil can be serious.

What Consumers Need to Do Now

Health Canada is urging anyone who has these products at home to act right away:

• Stop using Twins Herbal Idakole or Twins Herbal Pelorie immediately.
• Speak with a healthcare provider if you have any health concerns after using either product.
• Avoid buying or using any unauthorized health product — legitimate products carry an eight-digit DIN, NPN, or DIN-HM, which can be verified through Health Canada’s Drug Product Database or Licensed Natural Health Products Database.
• Contact the recalling company, Twins African Restaurant and Bar Inc. in Brampton, with any questions about the recall.
• Report any side effects to Health Canada through its MedEffect program, and report any other safety concerns through the department’s complaint system.

From the Agency

Health Canada published the alert on August 25, 2026, assigning it identification number RA-82524 and classifying it as a Type I health product recall under the category ‘Health products – Drugs’. The recall’s audience includes the general public, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders, reflecting the seriousness with which the agency is treating the discovery.

The case underscores a recurring concern among regulators: herbal and ‘natural’ products sold without proper authorization can sometimes be spiked with active pharmaceutical ingredients to boost their effects, exposing unsuspecting consumers to prescription-strength risks without any warning on the label.