Peptides bought online. Bacteria inside.
To be clear, I'm not an anti-peptide physician. I prescribe peptides, my patients fill them at a licensed pharmacy, and I never leave them unsupported on their peptide journey. This is a warning for Canadians and Americans: know where your peptides come from.
Peptides have a real place in medicine when a physician prescribes them and a licensed pharmacy fills them. What worries me is where these vials come from.
What Health Canada found
Health Canada issued a public advisory on November 6, 2026 after lab testing found bacteria in unauthorized injectable peptides sold online. More than 11,400 vials were seized.
The products in the Health Canada advisory included tirzepatide, retatrutide, tesamorelin, MOTS-c, NAD+ and hCG. They were sold in Canada through truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com. Both sites have been shut down.
“Know where your peptides come from.”
What CBS News found
In October, a CBS News investigation had a vial sold as retatrutide tested in a lab. There was no retatrutide in it. There was bacteria.
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What to do
Check the label. Authorized drugs in Canada carry a DIN, a Drug Identification Number.
"For research use only" means it was never made for people.
Already injecting? Fever, chills, or redness, swelling or pain at the injection site needs medical care right away.
Have some at home? Don't use it. Take it to your local pharmacist for safe disposal.
Sources
Health Canada public advisory, November 6, 2026. CBS News, October 21, 2026.
Elaine Chin, M.D., M.B.A.
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