Introduction:The Hong Kong Department of Health recently discovered that an instant coffee product on the market was illegally adulterated with the prescription drug sildenafil, which may cause serious side effects such as low blood pressure. Investigations show that similar products are still circulating on online shopping platforms. Although they have been urgently taken down, consumers should remain vigilant against functional coffees from unknown sources. This article details the incident, explains the risks and mechanisms of the drug involved, and provides key points for selecting legitimate brands and advice on legal purchasing.
The Hong Kong Department of Health recently received a report from the public alleging that a commercially available "Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee" contained an undeclared controlled drug—sildenafil. This prescription ingredient, originally used to treat erectile dysfunction, must be prescribed by a physician after evaluation. Unauthorized use may lead toa sudden drop in blood pressure and severe headachesamong other risks, and may even trigger fatal complications in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Professional testing revealed that although the specific sildenafil content in the implicated product has not been publicly disclosed, according to data from drug regulatory authorities, the recommended single dose of this ingredient must be strictly controlled between 25 and 100 milligrams. Illegal additions often exceed safe limits. The Department of Health has explicitly warned that such adulteration may interact with nitroglycerin-type heart medications, dangerously lowering blood pressure to shock levels.
Reporters found that although the brand involved, "FIRSTWELL," had been completely removed from sale, HKTVmall once still listed a similarly packaged product, "Araon Adam Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee." The ingredient list of this product clearly states that it contains arabica coffee beans, Tongkat Ali extract, maca powder, and guarana extract. Although the packaging side notes that "this product is not registered under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance," it still recommends a consumption frequency of no more than two servings per week—an assertion that may already violate Hong Kong’s Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
Regarding market regulation, HKTVmall responded by stating that its risk control team, upon receiving notification from the Department of Health, immediately locked down the involved vendor and completed the takedown process. System records show that all items of the relevant product codes sold by the merchant have been taken off the shelves, and the platform has also initiated a buyer contact mechanism, offering voluntary refund options. Currently, although searching the keyword "Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee" still shows some results, the actual product pages have all been removed.
Industry experts remind that the ingredient list of legitimate instant coffee should only contain food-grade ingredients such as roasted coffee beans, sugar, and emulsifiers. Any functional additives that claim "aphrodisiac effects" must be verified for possession of a pharmaceutical product registration number. When making purchases, consumers can check the product registration information through the Hong Kong Department of Health’s Drug Office website, and prioritize well-known brands that provide complete production traceability, such as suppliers certified by HACCP.
The Department of Health reiterated that the outer packaging of all legitimate pharmaceutical products must bear a printed registration number (typically in the format of HK-XXXXX). Products without such numbers are illegal. If the public inadvertently consumes such products and experiencessymptoms such as blurred vision, palpitations, or persistent low blood pressure, they should immediately go to the emergency room for treatment and retain the product packaging as evidence for tracing.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
