Health Canada finds bacteria in seized unauthorized peptides

Health Canada on November 6, 2026 warned people not to buy, use or inject unauthorized peptides after it said lab testing found bacteria in injectable products sold online by a Shanghai supplier. The department said it seized more than 11,400 vials from that supplier and two Canadian online retailers.

The public advisory, identification number RA-82930, names Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co. Ltd., which Health Canada calls ERP Peptide. The department said it seized and tested unauthorized injectable peptides from the company and found bacteria including Acinetobacter seifertii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis and Propionibacterium (Cutibacterium) acnes. CityNews Toronto described ERP Peptide as a China-based wholesaler of peptide products.

What Health Canada says about the risk

“Injecting contaminated products can cause serious infections, hospitalization, and in severe cases, life-threatening sepsis,” Health Canada said. The department added that the risk of infection is higher for people whose immune systems are compromised.

Health Canada said that injectable peptides in Canada are generally regulated as prescription drugs. It said unauthorized products “have not been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality by Health Canada,” and that selling unauthorized drug products is illegal.

The retailers and the seizures

According to the advisory, the department identified two Canadian online retailers, truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com, that were selling ERP Peptide products. Health Canada said it obtained court-issued entry warrants and seized unauthorized drug products from both. It said that, as a result of compliance and enforcement action, the two websites are no longer active. Across ERP Peptide and the two retailers, the department put the total seized at over 11,400 vials.

The advisory lists these as examples of the unauthorized injectable peptide and non-peptide drugs sold online by ERP Peptide:

• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
• MOTS-C
• NAD+
• Retatrutide
• Tesamorelin
• Tirzepatide

Health Canada said it has asked ERP Peptide to immediately stop selling illegal peptides into Canada. The department said it is also working with the Canada Border Services Agency to keep unauthorized shipments from entering the country, and that it will keep taking enforcement action, including seizures, testing and disrupting distribution channels.

What Health Canada advises

Health Canada said people should not buy or use these products. It said anyone who has used an unauthorized injectable peptide and develops redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, fever or chills, or otherwise feels unwell should seek medical attention right away, because these may be signs of a serious infection.

The department said authorized prescription drugs in Canada have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label, and that people can check whether a drug is authorized in its Drug Product Database. It also said: “Do not use drugs that are labelled ‘For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption’.” Health Canada said such products are meant for lab use.

What is not known

The advisory does not say which specific products or lots tested positive for each bacterium, how many vials were tested, or when the seizures took place. It does not say whether anyone has been charged, or whether Health Canada has received reports of infections linked to these products. The department did not name the people behind the two retailer websites. ERP Peptide’s response to the request to stop selling into Canada is not known.