Health Canada warns of bacteria in online peptides

Health Canada says lab testing has found bacteria in unauthorized injectable peptides and other drugs sold online by a Shanghai-based company, and it is telling Canadians not to buy or use them. The department issued the public advisory on Nov. 6, 2026.

The products were sold by Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Health Canada said the examples it found include human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), MOTS-C, NAD+, retatrutide, tesamorelin and tirzepatide. None of the products has been authorized for sale in Canada, which means the department has not assessed them for safety, quality or effectiveness.

According to the advisory, testing identified three kinds of bacteria: Acinetobacter seifertii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis and Propionibacterium (Cutibacterium) acnes. Health Canada said the risk of infection is higher in people with a compromised immune system. The advisory does not list brand names, lot numbers or provinces.

Two Canadian online retailers are named in the advisory: truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com. Health Canada said both websites are no longer active. The department said it seized more than 11,400 vials from the Shanghai company and the two retailers.

The advisory is direct: do not buy or use these products. Anyone who has already used one and develops fever, chills, redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, or who simply feels unwell, should seek medical attention right away. The department also asked people to report side effects or complaints to Health Canada.

For anyone who has leftover vials at home, Health Canada recommends disposing of them through municipal hazardous-waste guidance or at a pharmacy.

Health Canada gives a few simple checks for anyone buying a prescription drug. Buy only from a licensed pharmacy. Look for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label, which shows the product has been authorized for sale in Canada. The advisory also says not to use any product labelled “For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption.”

The warning follows earlier action on the same issue. In July, Health Canada was granted an injunction over sales by an unauthorized peptide retailer, and in April it urged Canadians to think twice before injecting peptides bought online. What is new in the Nov. 6 advisory is the laboratory finding of bacteria in products from this particular seller.

Several of the products named, including tirzepatide, are active ingredients in drugs that are authorized in Canada when made by licensed manufacturers and prescribed by a health professional. The advisory is about the unauthorized versions sold online, which have not gone through that review. A product with the same name on the label is not the same as an authorized drug.

Health Canada’s public enquiries line is 613-957-2991 or 1-866-225-0709, and its email address is [email protected].

Pharmacists can also answer questions about whether a product is authorized in Canada. A licensed pharmacy can confirm a Drug Identification Number, explain what a prescribed medication should look like, and take back unwanted vials for safe disposal. People who are unsure about something they have already injected can call their doctor, a pharmacist or their provincial health line for advice on what to watch for.

This article is based on official guidance from Health Canada and is provided for general public information. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, if you have questions about how this applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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Sources: Health Canada, Health Canada warns about contaminated unauthorized injectable peptides and non-peptide drugs (public advisory, Nov. 6, 2026); Recalls and Safety Alerts.