Cyprus Health Ministry recalls dangerous food supplement from the market

The Cyprus Ministry of Health has demanded the immediate removal of the plant-based dietary supplement THEMRA – Afrodisiac Magiun from retail sale. A specific batch with a fully natural composition, produced on 22 October 2025 and with a shelf life until 22 October 2028, has been banned. An inspection by the Health Service and subsequent analyses at the State Chemical Laboratory revealed that a prescription drug substance was concealed in the product under the guise of a natural remedy. The distributor has already been ordered to recall the product, and citizens are strongly urged to return the purchased jars to the stores.

The manufacturer's marketing claims about a “100% natural herbal blend” turned out to be a crude and dangerous deception of consumers. The addition of hidden prescription drugs to dietary supplements for enhancing potency is a classic illegal practice of unscrupulous companies that try to guarantee an immediate effect at the expense of customers' health. Since consumers do not know the exact dosage or nature of the drug mixed in, uncontrolled use of such a “natural” product can cause severe side effects, especially in people with chronic cardiovascular diseases.

This incident also exposes serious systemic gaps in the mechanism for preliminary control of imported medical and food products in Cyprus. The fact that a dangerous supplement freely entered the domestic market and made it to the shelves proves the ineffectiveness of preventive oversight. State authorities reacted after the fact, when the batch was already in circulation, putting people's health at risk. The Health Service needs to drastically tighten the rules for certification and spot testing of dietary supplements already at the stage of their import into the country, rather than relying solely on scheduled inspections of retail outlets.