Health Canada has issued a recall for “laughing gas” that it says is being sold without authorization and presents a serious safety risk.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is legal in Canada when it is administered by a health care professional, such as for dental surgery or medical procedures for sedation or pain relief. The gas is also found in cream dispensers and some food tools but is not mean to be inhaled, Health Canada said.
The agency has warned Canadians not to inhale nitrous oxide products for recreational purposes, and advised those who have done so and experienced side effects to seek medical attention immediately.
The brands selling the impacted products include Bamboozle, Best Whip, Gold Whip, GreatWhip, Prime Whip, and Whip-It! Some of the items have flavours like lemon mint ice, strawberry, and pineapple, among others, while other products are unflavoured.
The agency said inhaling nitrous oxide products can result in death, and noted that the products are being sold under various street names, such as “whippets,” “hippy crack,” “NOS,” and “nang,” for recreational purposes.
“When inhaled—or ‘huffed’—nitrous oxide can cause euphoria and relaxation,” Health Canada said in June.
The agency said it can also come with serious effects, such as loss of consciousness, birth defects, anemia, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, impaired bowel and bladder function, increased heart rate, heart attack or stroke, and lack of oxygen in the blood. It can also result in nerve damage, prolonged pain, and in some cases permanent paralysis, Health Canada said.
“Repeated use increases the likelihood of severe outcomes and may result in lasting neurological damage, even after stopping use,” it said.
The health agency said that regular use of nitrous oxide can also cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
At the time, the agency said the products were being sold online and in retail stores. It noted the products may be “deceptively labelled” as chargers for whip cream; can come in flavours, which are “not permitted”; and could be found in stores where one would “not expect to find whipped cream chargers,” Health Canada said.
The health agency also noted that it has not reviewed the products for safety or quality, and they could be contaminated, leading to additional health risks when inhaled.
It said it had seized several unauthorized nitrous oxide products and was working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop shipments from entering Canada.
