Several Facebook pages with content in Albanian have put up for sale a product with the inscription "HONEY FOR POTENCY", claiming that it is a 100% natural product.
After fact-checking conducted by hibrid.info, it has been confirmed that the product in question, called "Themra Epimedyumlu Bitkisel Karisimli Macun", is not 100% natural and that it contains drugs.
Link to the article published on Facebook by the pages "Misk Bio Products", "Bio Products Shop", "Form Kosova Bio", "Bio Products Shop", "Botanika" and "Bio Online":
After researching through online search engines regarding this product, hibrid.info managed to find information published by the US Food and Drug Administration.
On the official website of the US Food and Drug Administration "fda.gov", on August 18, 2021, information was published about this product, stating that it contains drugs. (see here)
Excerpt from the announcement by the US Food and Drug Administration "fda.gov", translated into Albanian:
Public Notice: Themra Epimedyumlu Bitkisel Karisimli Macun contains hidden medicinal ingredients
[8-18-2021] The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to purchase or use Themra Epimedyumlu Bitkisel Karisimli Macun, a product promoted for sexual enhancement and energy enhancement on various websites and possibly in some retail stores. This product was discovered during an inspection of imported goods. The shipment was directed to an Amazon fulfillment center.
FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that Themra Epimedyumlu Bitkisel Karisimli Macun contains sildenafil, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved prescription drug Viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction. The FDA's approval of Viagra is limited to use under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional. This undeclared ingredient can interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
Hibrid.info has also found another notice issued in 2020 by the Austrian Federal Office for Healthcare Safety (BASG), regarding this product, which clarifies that analyses have shown that this product contains the pharmacologically active ingredient Sildenafil, which is not declared in the product description or on the packaging. (here)
Excerpt from the announcement by the Austrian Federal Office for Healthcare Safety (BASG), translated into Albanian:
Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor used in the medical treatment of erectile dysfunction. Oral administration of the product in question affects the intake of medical-therapeutic doses of Sildenafil. The intake of active pharmaceutical ingredients from unknown sources and in unknown concentrations poses an incalculable and therefore incalculable risk to health. If Sildenafil is applied in an uncontrolled manner, serious side effects such as fluctuations in blood pressure, heart attack or stroke may occur.
Analyze:
Several online Facebook pages with content in Albanian have put up for sale online a product claiming to be 100% natural and labeled "honey for potency".
However, the US Food and Drug Administration "fda.gov" announced in 2021 that this product contains drugs, recommending that consumers not purchase it.
While the Austrian Federal Office for Healthcare Safety (BASG) explains that this product contains the pharmacologically active ingredient Sildenafil, which if applied in an uncontrolled manner, can cause serious side effects such as blood pressure fluctuations, heart attack or stroke.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses the content of the product offered for sale by several Facebook pages as "Fraud".
Reasoning:
The “Deception” rating is given to informational content that is manipulated in terms of visual (deepfake, cheapfake), audio, or textual content to deceive the audience. This form of deception is usually used to produce false and manipulated content.