COOn July 10, the Colombian health authority Invima issued a sanitary alert regarding the product BiQ-FEL, which is marketed as a 'liquid food for preparing aromatic plant drinks with borox and chonta.' The agency warned against using the product, stating it was being sold as a sexual enhancer and thus violating regulations applicable to food and beverages. Invima claimed the product contained unauthorized substances and posed health risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the presence of sildenafil and tadalafil—drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction—in the product, noting these ingredients are not permitted in food items. Despite multiple warnings, the product continues to be sold on platforms like Mercado Libre and social media. Experts warn of potential serious health effects, including heart attacks and high blood pressure. Invima has urged consumers to stop purchasing and using the product and to report any instances of sale.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a regulatory action taken by a national health authority and includes international perspectives from the FDA. It does not take a clear ideological stance but reports on the controversy surrounding the product’s marketing and health implications. While
Why factuality (85): The article reports on the Invima alert regarding BiQ-FEL, citing the agency’s claim that the product is fraudulent and contains unauthorized substances. It also references the FDA’s findings about the presence of sildenafil and tadalafil, which aligns with cross-source consensus. However, the artic
Why objectivity (70): The article presents information from Invima and FDA but uses emotionally charged terms like 'fraudulento' and 'riesgo para la salud.' The inclusion of an irrelevant image caption suggests a lack of strict neutrality, lowering objectivity.
