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By Mihar Dias March 2025
If you’re reaching for a cup of coffee that promises to transform you into a bedroom dynamo (or a boxer), you might want to think twice—because what’s lurking inside could be more than just caffeine.
Singapore has just banned Kopi Penumbuk, (read punch) a Malaysian-made instant coffee, after detecting tadalafil, a prescription drug used for erectile dysfunction. https://newswav.com/A2503_EDe077?s=A_GrIwGLM&language=en
Now, let’s be clear: tadalafil isn’t some harmless herbal remedy. It’s a potent medication that requires medical supervision.
Misusing it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, migraines, or priapism (a painful, prolonged erection that could land you in the ER instead of impressing your partner).
If you have a heart condition, the risks are even greater, as the drug can dangerously lower your blood pressure, especially when taken with nitrate-based heart medications.
This isn’t the first time Singapore has flagged Malaysian food products for safety violations. In recent years:
• A weight-loss drink was removed for containing sennosides, a strong laxative that causes abdominal cramps.
• Two candy products were pulled for containing medicinal ingredients banned in food.
• Back in 2022, two people ended up in hospital after consuming a similar sexual enhancement coffee, suffering from migraines and priapism. https://newswav.com/A2503_EDe077?s=A_GrIwGLM&language=en
The issue isn’t just about rogue manufacturers sneaking drugs into their products—it’s about the unregulated food supplement industry in Malaysia and how easily such products slip into Singapore and beyond via online platforms.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has already taken down Kopi Penumbuk listings, issued warnings to sellers, and urged consumers to be cautious about what they buy online. (A brand like Penumbuk (punch) is a dead giveaway).
For Malaysians, the real question is: how many of these tainted products are still circulating locally?
Unlike Singapore, which has stricter enforcement, Malaysia’s regulatory oversight often struggles to keep up with dodgy health products.
When coffee packs sold in night markets and online claim to boost virility, who’s actually verifying what’s inside?
If a simple cup of coffee needs a doctor’s prescription to be safe, maybe it’s best to just stick to a regular kopi O.
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