In news from the Philippines there is a report about a harmful weight loss product.
It turns out that the product contains potentially dangerous ingredients, and the government decided to seize the product.
Leading the seizure was Dr. Simer Belacho, division chief of the Regulatory and Licensing Division of the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao.
So what was in the product that made the government so concerned?
Zhen De Shou fat loss tea, Dr. Belacho said, contains amphetamine, sibutramine and sildenafil, based on laboratory examination conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year.
Amphetamines are powerful stimulants. They used to be commonly used for weight loss here in the United States, but were banned because of numerous side effects, including risk of heart attack and seizure.
And sildenafil? That’s also known as Viagra — a medication that’s used primarily for male erectile dysfunction.
Because of these potentially dangerous materials, Dr. Belacho led a team that attempted to confiscate the products.
However, Belacho said they were prevented by a store supervisor from confiscating the products, and were told to secure approval first from the mall management.
So it appears that in the Philippines the government is unable to confiscate a product unless the “mall management” agrees?
Apparently it is truly buyer beware.
Belacho said the FDA had already ordered the distributor of Zhen De Shou fat loss tea to recall the product following result of the laboratory examination. Despite this, the distributor continued selling the product nationwide.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/harmful-weight-loss-product-confiscated
