Products found to contain undeclared medicines
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| Singapore: HSA Alert: Three weight loss products sold online found to contain banned substance sibutramine; two consumers experienced adverse effects |
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The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not to purchase or consume three products marketed online for weight loss. Contrary to their claims of being “natural” or “herbal”, HSA’s analysis of these products found that they contained high amounts of sibutramine, a banned toxic substance which can cause serious adverse effects when consumed. The three products are:
- “Nature Slim”
- “Slimming Seven Days by Figure Up”
- “Energy Booster Figure-Up New Look Strong Version”
A consumer took “Nature Slim” for two months and experienced rapid heartbeat, dry mouth and extreme thirst. She was informed by her friend that these symptoms were normal as the product was advertised to “enhance metabolism”. The product was also marketed as a “traditional preparation” that is “clinically proven” for “advanced weight loss” and to “control appetite”. However, the consumer became suspicious after she read from HSA’s past press release that the adverse effects she experienced could be due to the presence of sibutramine, and reported it to HAS.
“Slimming Seven Days by Figure Up” was marketed as a “traditional” product that is “used to reduce body weight and fats” and “suppress appetite”. A consumer experienced dry mouth, extreme thirst and insomnia after taking it for a few days.
HSA’s analysis detected very high levels of sibutramine in “Slimming Seven Days by Figure Up” and “Energy Booster Figure-Up New Look Strong Version”. Sibutramine is a prescription only weight loss medicine banned in Singapore since 2010 due to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other serious health consequences reported with its use include heart problems and central nervous system disorders (e.g., psychosis and hallucinations). HSA had previously received serious adverse effect reports of consumers experiencing hallucinations or hearing voices, palpitations and breathlessness after consuming slimming products adulterated with sibutramine. In one of the cases, a consumer experienced an extremely fast heart rate and became unconscious after taking a product adulterated with sibutramine. She was resuscitated and suffered debilitating consequences requiring the implantation of a defibrillator (a medical device) to help her heart to function.
The products were labelled to contain herbal ingredients such as green tea, cactus and raspberry extracts. In addition, “Slimming Seven Days by Figure Up” was labelled as “100% natural” while “Nature Slim” was labelled to contain a “botanical extract”. The products were also falsely labelled with “GMP” logos, which may mislead consumers into believing that the products are safe and manufactured under high quality standards certified by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
Please refer to the following website in HSA for details:http://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/hsa-alert-three-weight-loss-products-contain-banned-substance-sibutramine
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/Saturday, Jan 13, 2024
Issued at HKT 12:00
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