Viagra in honey: authorities warn of dangerous aphrodisiac mixture introduced into France

On January 20, 2025, customs warned of an unusual health risk: fake natural products presented as aphrodisiac honey were imported. The condiment would be mixed with stimulant drugs such as Viagra and Cialis.

Customs issued a warning on Monday about the risks associated with honey sold as aphrodisiacs, fake natural products whose seizures are increasing in France.

Dangerous consumption

Customs services indicate in a press release that they have noted “a clear upward trend for several years” of pods, illegally introduced into the country, which contain “honey mixed with medicines”. These products are “sold under the counter, for consumption that is intended to be 'festive' but which is above all dangerous”.

In 2019, 18 cases of illegal importation were noted, according to customs, then 131 in 2023. The year 2024 marked an “absolute record, both in terms of findings and in terms of quantities seized” with 31,000 tonnes, sold in particular in “night shops”, indicate customs.

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The most important case concerned “13 tonnes of erectile honey” seized in Marseille in November. Marseille port customs agents then seized nearly 860,000 sticks from Malaysia.

Not so natural…

The analysis of several samples of this merchandise declared as “natural honey” revealed the presence of the active ingredient of drugs prescribed for erectile dysfunction.

“These adulterated honeys come from Malaysia, Turkey, Tunisia and even Thailand,” describe customs. They are transported by sea, “in containers in large quantities, or by express freight, in smaller volumes, following purchase on the internet”.

Health authorities have also already warned against these honeys which expose consumers to serious adverse effects.

Sold in particular via the internet or social networks, these products are presented as “food supplements for aphrodisiac purposes” and some contain active medicinal substances not mentioned on the labels, including active ingredients of Viagra and Cialis, two drugs against erectile dysfunction sold only on prescription.

Prescription drugs

However, these substances are powerful vasodilators and are particularly contraindicated in people suffering from heart disease, health authorities point out.

In 2021, they had already said they had listed numerous reports of serious adverse effects following the consumption of these products, which had caused convulsions, cerebral edema, or major acute renal failure.