Authorities in Zambia have ordered a local manufacturer to stop the production and distribution of an energy drink that reportedly caused a prolonged erection in a man.
The Ndola City Council and the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) ordered an immediate stop to the production and consumption of Natural Power High Energy Drink which is believed to be used for treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.
The move comes after the Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) said in a letter dated 28 December that it had tested samples from a bottle of Natural Power SX after a customer complained of constant sweating and an erection lasting nearly six hours.
NDA said the drink contained sildenafil citrate used to treat erectile dysfunction.
In a joint statement today, the three institutions have said that officers are on the ground to collect samples of the raw materials and of the finished product for analytical tests that will determine if there is any truth to the claims being made.
And they have advised members of the public to desist from taking the drink until conclusive results are released that either confirm or dismiss the allegations.
This follows social media reports emanating from Uganda that the energy drink Natural Power SX may contain this substance, which is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.
Meanwhile, the manufacturers of the product, Revin Zambia Limited based in Ndola, have been ordered to halt the production and distribution of the energy drink until all investigations have been concluded and appropriate action taken.