FDA Issues Consumer Alert After Company Employee Replaced Energy Supplements With Prescription Drug

The counterfeit products may pose a health risk to consumers, the agency said.

An image of the Green Lumber capsules, authentic on left, counterfeit on right.

California-based Green Lumber Holdings is alerting consumers to counterfeit products misrepresented as genuine Green Lumber, an energy enhancement supplement, according to an Aug. 29 alert issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA found tadalafil, a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction, in products labeled as Green Lumber. Based on FDA findings, the company conducted an internal investigation and found that a company employee diverted legitimate packaging and customer information to distribute counterfeit, adulterated products.

The identified counterfeit, which may contain tadalafil, poses health risks to consumers, the notice states. The employee has been fired.

Tadalafil is a prescription-only medication. Individuals who take nitrates or certain prescription drugs for heart disease, blood pressure, or other conditions may be at risk when they take tadalafil alongside other drugs. Side effects include dangerously low blood pressure, the FDA stated.

“Consumer safety is our number one priority,” Brett Hales, president of Green Lumber, said, noting that the company has strengthened its safeguards to ensure that the issue does not happen again.

According to Green Lumber’s website, the supplement is a natural product containing eight plant extracts to boost performance and overall energy.

The advisory states that tadalafil must not be mixed with other prescription or over-the-counter medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements unless it has been discussed with a doctor.

An individual’s health care provider must approve the taking of tadalafil together with other drugs to prevent unnecessary side effects. The presence of other medical conditions may affect the use of tadalafil.

The FDA notice states that the counterfeit products do not show the Green Lumber lot number, LOTGLU13101b1EXP0926, which all authentic products carry.

People who have purchased the product are advised to check the packaging to confirm whether the lot number is shown. If it is not, immediately discontinue use of the product and report it directly to Green Lumber or to MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program.

Green Lumber products are available for mail delivery across the United States, with limited services in Canada.

People who experience unexpected side effects after consumption are requested to seek prompt medical care.

The Epoch Times reached out to Green Lumber for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.