GIMLI, Manitoba, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The owner of a Canadian store apologized for any offense caused by the shop carrying a novelty product called "Gay Away: The original gay pill."

The product, which is actually candy and comes in a box promising the gag product "cures gayness," raised controversy in Gimli, Manitoba, when it was discovered on the shelves of Rachelle Mistelbacher's store, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Friday.


"It's absolutely not right," resident Mona Johnson said. "I'm embarrassed, actually, to tell you the truth, that you guys found this in our community. ... I don't support this in any way, shape or form."

A local father who asked not to be named said his 12-year-old daughter purchased the product and brought it home to ask her parents what it was about.

Mistelbacher said she removed the product from the shelves following complaints from parents. She apologized for any offense caused and said stocking the gag product as an oversight and an "honest mistake."

Laughrat, the Toronto gag company that produced Gay Away, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the CBC said.