Viagra-laced ‘erectile honey’ is being sold in French corner shops and online for ‘recreational purposes’ – despite authorities warning it could have deadly effects.
There has been a huge surge in the sale of banned ‘love honey’, with customs officials saying they had seized tonnes of the illegally imported nectar last year.
The products, which can be bought for as little as €5, are untested and could potentially contain lethal doses of prescription drugs, according to experts.
Despite claiming to be an all-natural aphrodisiac, the substances contain active elements of Viagra and Cialis, which are used to treat erectile dysfunction.
‘There is a risk of very serious or even fatal accidents if taken simultaneously with other medication,’ Dr Alain Ducardonnet, a cardiologist, told French broadcaster BFMTV, adding that overdosing is also a risk.
‘If you take too much, you risk epileptic seizures, haemorrhages or kidney problems,’ he said.
Pictures show seized black and yellow boxes containing the packets of honey and gels, sold as ‘shots’ or ‘sticks’ with names like Black Horse or Bio Max.
The products are often sold surreptitiously in clubs and other nightlife spots, as well as widely online, with the honey reportedly becoming increasingly popular among young men.
French customs officials say they had seized tonnes of the illegally imported nectar last year
Pictures show seized black and yellow boxes containing the packets of honey and gels, sold as ‘shots’ or ‘sticks’ with names like Black Horse or Bio Max
‘Following a trend, a younger public are going for this in a big way, thinking they can match the performances to be found on porn sites,’ a police officer told Le Figaro newspaper.
In France, men suffering with erectile dysfunction can easily get medication if they attend a medical consultation, with warnings that people should seek out prescriptions from registered professionals rather than self-medicating.
‘As the amount of adulteration is unknown, and the doses consumed are neither recommended nor quantified, consumers are taking considerable risks by taking this type of adulterated honey, especially as there is no mention of dosage, contra-indications or adverse effects on the sachets,’ France’s customs agency said in a statement.
Largely coming from Malaysia, Turkey, Tunisia and Thailand, the illicit products ‘arrive by sea, in containers in large quantities, or by express freight, in smaller volumes, following purchases on the internet,’ the statement said.
French customs said they had seized vast amounts of the products after checks on 31,000 tonnes of honey consignments mainly entering by ship from these countries.
In November, officials at the port of Marseille seized a record 13.9 tons of aphrodisiac honey from Malaysia – enough of the product to sell around 860,000 doses.
French customs said they had seized vast amounts of the products after checks on 31,000 tonnes of honey consignments
Police have also seized consignments in the Paris region and elsewhere, with officers in Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand uncovering more than 238kg – nearly 25,000 doses – from a storage box.
The product began to flood the French market around 2019, according to Le Figaro.
Prices range from €30 (£25) per pot to €50 (£42) for 10 sachets of 15-30g each, The Telegraph reports, and they are often sold in shops that also sell illicit cigarettes and drugs.
Already in 2021, health authorities had warned of several cases where the honey had caused convulsions, cerebral oedemas or acute kidney injuries.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
