Health hazard through slimming products

Family deals with health-endangering slimming products

04/03/2015

Customs investigators have secured in a raid 100,000 units of unauthorized slimming products. A family should have acted with the illegal drugs. A contained active substance could cause considerable health-endangering effects. Even deaths have already happened.

100,000 preparations ensured
In Aschaffenburg, the customs investigation has left open the trade of a family with illegal slimming products. As the news agency dpa reports, investigators found in an apartment and a garden shed over 100,000 units of various pills, tablets, gels and coffee powder. According to the Frankfurt Customs a couple and their son are accused. For a year, the family should have sold the preparations over the Internet, and thus have taken at least half a million euros.

Unauthorized agent with dangerous side effects
It is said that the rooms of a postal service provider in Berlin, which is said to have sent the goods, were also searched. According to the information, the funds are not allowed and are considered to be of concern. Thus, in the preparations of the active ingredient sibutramine contained, which could cause significant side effects such as headache, high blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia. There have even been deaths related to the drug. According to the message, the rooms were searched a week ago.

US authorities warned against similar funds last year
The appetite suppressant sibutramine is also included in Zi-Xiu-Tang bee pollen capsules. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of this antidote last year. These capsules also contained triphenylmethane phenolphthalein, which may have carcinogenic effects. The regulator cautioned against using it as it had several reports of palpitations, tachycardia, chest pain, suicidal thoughts, and other side effects that had occurred after taking the slimming capsules. (Ad)

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