Viagra-laced “erectile honey” is sold in French stores and online for “recreational purposes,” despite authorities warning it could have deadly effects.
There has been a huge rise in the sale of banned “love honey”, and customs officials said they had confiscated tonnes of the illegally imported nectar last year.
The products, which can be purchased for as little as €5, are untested and could contain lethal doses of prescription drugs, according to experts.
Despite claiming to be an all-natural aphrodisiac, the substances contain active elements of Viagra and Cialis, which are used to treat erectile dysfunction.
“There is a risk of very serious or even fatal accidents if taken simultaneously with other medications,” Dr. Alain Ducardonnet, a cardiologist, told French broadcaster BFMTV, adding that overdose also poses a risk.
“If you take too much, you run the risk of epileptic seizures, bleeding or kidney problems,” he said.
The images show seized black and yellow boxes containing packets of honey and gels, sold as ‘shots’ or ‘sticks’ with names such as Black Horse or Bio Max.
The products are often sold surreptitiously in clubs and other nightlife venues, as well as widely online, and honey is said to be becoming increasingly popular with young men.
French customs officials say they confiscated tons of illegally imported nectar last year.

The images show seized black and yellow boxes containing packets of honey and gels, sold as ‘shots’ or ‘sticks’ with names such as Black Horse or Bio Max.
“Following a trend, the younger audience is banking on this in a big way, thinking they can match the performances found on porn sites,” said a police officer. The Figaro newspaper.
In France, men suffering from erectile dysfunction can easily obtain medication by attending a doctor’s consultation, with warnings that people should seek prescriptions from registered professionals rather than self-medicate.
“As the degree of adulteration is unknown and the doses consumed are not recommended or quantified, consumers run considerable risks when taking this type of adulterated honey, especially since the sachets do not mention doses, contraindications or adverse effects,” he said. the French customs agency in a statement.
Coming largely from Malaysia, Turkey, Tunisia and Thailand, the illicit products “arrive by sea, in containers in large quantities, or by express transport, in smaller volumes, after purchases on the Internet,” according to the statement.
French customs said they had confiscated large quantities of products after checks on 31,000 tonnes of honey shipments entering mainly by ship from these countries.
In November, officials at the port of Marseille confiscated a record 13.9 tons of aphrodisiac honey from Malaysia, enough to sell about 860,000 doses.

French customs said they had seized large quantities of products after checking 31,000 tonnes of honey shipments.
Police have also seized shipments in the Paris region and elsewhere, and officers in Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand discovered more than 238 kg (almost 25,000 doses) from a storage box.
The product began to flood the French market around 2019, according to The Figaro.
Prices range from €30 (£25) per jar to €50 (£42) for 10 sachets of 15-30g each. The Telegraph reportsand are often sold in stores that also sell cigarettes and illicit drugs.
Already in 2021, health authorities had warned of several cases in which honey had caused seizures, cerebral edema or acute kidney injury.