Health Canada is advising Canadians to stop using all human and veterinary drug products containing Gentian Violet.
Gentian Violet, otherwise known as Crystal Violet, is an antiseptic dye used to treat fungal infections, but a Health Canada safety review has found that exposure to products containing it may increase the risk of cancer.
The department concluded that, as with other known cancer-causing substances, there is no safe level of the products and therefore any exposure to them is a potential cause for concern.
The review was triggered by a World Health Organization recommendation on the potential risk of cancer associated with veterinary drug residues in foods.
