Health Canada is advising consumers not to use any products that contain the herbal ingredient kava (also known as kava-kava), with or without drug identification numbers (DINs), in light of recent reports of liver toxicity related to use of kava products in Europe.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


Kava is found in herbal and homeopathic preparations, and marketed to treat anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, pain and muscle tension. It may also be found as an ingredient in food products.


It is widely used in Europe, and has become increasingly used in Canada.


There have been at least 24 reports of liver toxicity associated with the use of kava products internationally, including one reported death, and several cases which required liver transplantation. However, no cases of liver toxicity have been reported in Canada. Like Health Canada, other international regulatory agencies (Germany, France, Switzerland, UK, US) are taking steps to prevent liver-related risks associated with the use of kava-containing products.


As a result of these international reports, Health Canada is now reviewing the safety and effectiveness of kava. To ensure the safety and health of consumers in the interim, Health Canada is issuing this advisory, advising consumers not to use any products which contain kava until the safety assessment can be completed. Once the safety assessment is completed, and all international safety data are analyzed, Health Canada will communicate the results to the public, and take further action if required.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Consumers are advised to check the labels of any herbal products for the presence of kava, and to discontinue use of any product labelled to contain kava.


Kava may be identified by the following names:


kava
kava kava
kava-kava
kava root
kava-kava root
kavain
kava pepper
kavapipar
kawa
kawa kawa
kawa pepper
kawapfeffer
maori kava
rhizoma di kava-kava
 ava
ava pepper
ava root
awa
gea
gi
intoxicating pepper
intoxicating
long pepper
kao
Piper methysticum
Macropiper Latifolium
Piper inebrians
 Malohu
maluk
meruk
milik
kew
Rauschpfeffer
sakau
tonga
Wurzelstock
yagona
yangona
yaqona
yongona


Consumers are also advised to consult with their health care practitioner if they have experienced any adverse effects from taking products containing kava. The following symptoms may be associated with liver problems:


jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
brown urine
nausea
vomiting
unusual tiredness
weakness
stomach or abdominal pain, and /or
loss of appetite.


Additionally, health care professionals and practitioners of alternative medicine are being asked to report any cases of liver toxicity in association with use of kava-containing products.