Dangerous Cup o' Joe? Aphrodisiac Coffee Receives FDA Warning

Jun. 23, 2010— -- A cup o' joe to put you in the mood? Coffee isn't normally thought of as an aphrodisiac, but Magic Power Coffee, the self-proclaimed "romance enhancer" herbal supplement, promises a different kind of java perk-up.

Their website promises "increased arousal," "stimulating buzz," "improved endurance," and for women, "multiple-releases" during sex, but whether these claims are true, this so-called supplement may also cause some very unsexy side effects, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers Saturday: dizziness, dangerously low blood pressure and potential death.

The drink, sold only online, contains goji berry, horny goat weed and ginseng, according to the company website, but the FDA says tests uncovered a non-listed ingredient, hydroxythiohomosildenafil, a chemical cousin of the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil.

"The active ingredient in Magic Power Coffee is not approved by the FDA and poses a Class I danger, that is, it could result in serious harm to health and death," FDA spokesman Ira Allen said.

"We asked [Magic Power Coffee] to do a voluntary recall and they declined to do that," he said.

In a press release Saturday, the FDA advised consumers of the product to "stop using it immediately" as it "can cause serious harm." No adverse events have yet been associated with the use of this product, the press release noted.

"It's an unapproved drug, that's the essential issue here, and it's being advertised as a supplement," Allen said. The FDA is investigating the issue further.

Email and phone inquiries to Magic Power Coffee were not immediately returned.