HAAD warns against slimming products with banned ingredients

The appeal followed the HAAD’s receipt of 60 products from public asking to check its ingredients and safety of consumption. 30 of these products were slimming products. After analysis it was found that 15 weight loss products contained adulterated substance like Sibutramine and Alvenulfthalin.

Sibutramine is a substance used as a medicine to lose weight and have been withdrawn from the market after it was discovered that the risks of use outweigh the benefits, as it may lead to side effects related to the heart and blood vessels such as high blood pressure, irregular heart beat rate. Alvenulfthalin is a prohibited drug in the market as it is a carcinogen.

Dr. Ali obaid Al Ali, Director of Health Regulation at HAAD said: ‘Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate, and people are trying to lose weight by using weight loss products. Sadly, and despite the availability of approved products, consumers are being misled by some products safety and effectiveness.’

‘Many consumers also have a wrong perception that any product marketed as herbal is safe, in many cases we have gathered and tested these products and found it to contain undefined chemicals or unknown drug concentration leading to a risk to the health of the user’, Al Ali added.

HAAD has issued several warnings and withdrew in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Citry Municipality many slimming products which show defraud through the analysis that was conducted by the Zayed Complex for Herbal or international health authorities like Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada.

• UAE