Feeding Solid Foods and Unauthorized Injectable Peptide Drugs

Dear Parents

Feeding baby – Introducing Solid Foods Poster

The SHA Public Health Nutritionists are happy to announce that the poster Feeding Baby... Introducing Solid Foods is now available. This full colour poster covers the basics of when babies are ready to learn how to eat family foods, how caregivers can support teaching their child, food textures, and the importance of variety and key nutrients. It is intended for posting in clinic rooms, waiting areas and public spaces. It also contains a QR code that links to the 2026 booklet Feeding Your Baby: 6-12 Months by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health, the SHA Public Health Nutritionists’ recommended resource on this topic.

The poster can be found on the SHA website here:

Nutrition and Eating - SHA Internet > Your Health > Healthy Living > Nutrition and Eating > For Infants and Children

Posters (11 x 17” in size) can be ordered via SHA Printing Services using the following form SHA-5066-Printing-Services-Request-Form-Non-SHA-Offices-Fillable.pdf. Be sure to use Form Number CS-PIER-0364 in the Form Request section. The booklet will be available to order at a later date.

If you have any questions about the poster or accompanying resource link, contact Anna Millman by email at [email protected] or phone at 306-750-8116.

Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs

We have had a number of parents calling-in with concerns about their teenage children accessing unauthorized injectable peptide drugs online. We are also hearing that there are students who are acting as agents and selling these within schools.

Health Canada is warning consumers about the serious health risks of using unauthorized injectable peptide drugs.

These products can change how your body works and are often promoted online and on social media for “anti-aging”, weight loss, bodybuilding, athletic performance, injury recovery, sleep, mental focus, or general “wellness”.

In Canada, peptides are generally regulated as prescription drugs.

Authorized peptide drugs should only be used under the care of a licensed healthcare professional, such as a doctor, to treat specific conditions. Health Canada reminds consumers that decisions about prescription medication should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional and should only be purchased from a licensed pharmacy.

Unauthorized drug products are illegal in Canada and have not been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality by Health Canada. They have not been demonstrated, through scientific trials, to provide the health benefits that they claim.

Consumers taking unauthorized peptide drugs are exposed to a variety of risks, including, but not limited to, hormonal imbalance, mood swings, blood sugar imbalance, liver or kidney damage, blood clots, and growth of cancerous tumours.

Unauthorized drugs may also:

lead to infections, allergic reactions, and other serious complications
contain too much, too little, or none of the active ingredient
contain unlisted, dangerous or unknown ingredients
contain contaminants, such as solvents, heavy metals, particles (fibers, glass, plastic), or microbials (bacteria, fungi, endotoxins)
be poorly or incorrectly labelled
be improperly manufactured or stored
interact with other medications or health products you may be taking.

Health Canada continues to identify products marketed as “For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption.” This type of labelling does not make these products legal or exempt from regulatory requirements. Canadians are advised not to buy or use products labelled in this way.

Health Canada has seized several unauthorized injectable peptide drugs and is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop unauthorized shipments from entering the country.

For further information, please check the links below:

Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you - Canada.ca

Public Safety Notice: Unapproved and ILLEGAL Retatrutide Products

Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Injectable Peptide Drugs - College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS)

Canadian Society of Pediatrics Statement on Unlicensed Injectable Peptides

The Canadian Society of Pediatrics has issued a warning against the use of unauthorized injectable peptide drugs, emphasizing that these products are illegal in Canada and have not been assessed for safety, efficacy, or quality. Health Canada has made it clear that labelling a product as "For Research Use Only" does not make it legal or exempt from Canadian regulatory requirements. Consumers are advised to avoid these products and seek medical advice if they have used any unauthorized peptide drugs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued guidelines regarding the use of injectable peptides in children and adolescents. They emphasize the importance of FDA approval for these substances, as most peptides marketed for injection are not FDA-approved drugs and may not meet the necessary safety and efficacy standards. The AAP warns that many peptides live in an under-regulated marketplace, where scientific evidence is thin, and safety is uncertain. They recommend that parents and healthcare providers exercise caution when considering the use of injectable peptides for their children, as they may not be safe or effective for the intended purposes.

Thank you for your attention to this potentially serious hazard, and please advise other parents and community members accordingly

Dr. David Torr

Area Department Lead - Rural, SHA Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Medical Health Officer , SW4-6 networks

Saskatchewan Health Authority Cell: (306) 831 7631 Fax: (306) 205 8444

Dr. David Torr