“Kopi Penumbuk” found to be adulterated with Tadalafil

          The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) had detected Tadalafil, a potent prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction, in a food product, “Kopi Penumbuk”. Consumers are advised not to purchase or consume the product.

2        “Kopi Penumbuk” had been marketed on local e-commerce platforms as a coffee product with claims of male sexual enhancement effects. SFA has worked with various online e-commerce platforms to remove listings of the product and issued warnings to the respective sellers to refrain from selling the product with immediate effect.

3        Tadalafil is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction and should only be given under medical supervision. Inappropriate use of tadalafil is dangerous and can increase the risk of serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke, headache, migraine, irregular heart rate and priapism (painful and exceedingly long erections). Tadalafil can also pose serious risks to certain individuals, including those with heart-related problems. They can cause potentially life-threatening low blood pressure in those who are on heart medications, especially those containing nitrates.

4        Details of the product are as follows: 

5        SFA will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells and supplies unsafe food products that are adulterated with banned substances and/or medicinal substances that are not allowed in food. Under Section 15 of Singapore's Sale of Food Act, the sale of unsafe food is not permitted. Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.

6        Consumers who have purchased the implicated products should not consume it. Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers should also exercise caution and be mindful of the risks associated with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources and are advised to seek more information before making any purchase.

7        Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply of this unsafe food product may write in to SFA at www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback.