Nuway Distributors LLC recalled APEXXX after FDA tests found the products, which were marketed as dietary supplements, contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Viagra. This incident is another reminder to the supplement industry to test ingredients and products, and verify the supply chain.

Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

December 24, 2015

1 Min Read
Another Supplement Recalled for Sildenafil

Nuway Distributors LLC recalled APEXXX after FDA tests found the products, which were marketed as dietary supplements, contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Viagra. This incident is another reminder to the supplement industry to test ingredients and products, and verify the supply chain.

"As Nuway Distributors LLC receives this product from overseas in a sealed package, representing that it contains only lawful and legitimate ingredients, we are relying on the representations of the Food and Drug Administration that the public interest would best be served by voluntarily complying with their request to get the product off the shelves," stated Nuway Distributors in a press release from FDA. “Our goal is to protect the safety of the consumer."

APEXXX was marketed as a dietary supplement for male sexual enhancement, and was sold from June 2014 to June 2015 in a retail store located in Orlando, Florida for further sale in smoke shops, convenient stores and gas stations. APEXXX may also have been further sold online, according to the FDA press release.

Including pharmaceuticals in supplement products is illegal per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

Nuway is also removing lots of another product—OPAL tablets—because it is sourced from the same vendors as APEXXX.

Supplier verification is so important in the supplement industry, and brands need to do their due diligence. Relying on the vendor’s word or certificate of analysis (CoA) is not enough. This will continue to be an issue in 2016, and I noted in my 2016 predictions blog. The time to verify the supply chain is now.

About the Author(s)

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands Natural Products Insider and Food and Beverage Insider, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide East and SupplySide West, and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

Contact:

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