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Agents ordered to stop selling Simply Slim |
| Schedule 5 substance found in slimming capsules Agents of Simply Slim have been ordered to stop selling the weight-loss product after the Medicines Control Council suspended its sales. The order comes after the MCC issued a directive for the product's recall after certain batches revealed that the product contained sibutramine - a schedule 5 substance which may only be prescribed by a doctor. In order for a product to contain the substance, it must be registered as a medicine, and it may be sold only on a doctor's prescription. Sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, is taken to treat obesity. "Simply Slim is a weight loss product that is not registered as a medicine by the MCC as it is being promoted and sold as a complementary herbal weight-loss product," said Health Department spokesman Fidel Radebe. Yesterday, a spokesman for Simply Slim, Lance Rothschild, said they ordered the sales halt on Friday after the MCC had issued a directive for the product's recall until "further investigations and review can be completed". Rothschild said they had also advised their customers to "cease taking Simply Slim capsules with immediate effect". He explained that the "capsules are being recalled due to certain samples testing positive for sibutramine". Radebe confirmed that investigations conducted, from product samples collected from various suppliers and tested at reputable laboratories, showed that certain batches revealed that the product contained sibutramine. Also, the active ingredient of Simply Slim is "bitter orange, the principal active chemical ingredient of which is synephrine", another schedule 5 substance. Radebe said the MCC had concluded that "the risks associated with the use of weight loss medicine Simply Slim are greater than the benefits" and that the products needed to be registered as a medicine before it could be sold again. "We've had issues of cardiovascular problems from the people, both men and women, who've taken the product. This was channelled to the council" said Radebe. He added that other product complaints included customers experiencing headaches and psychological effects. And in the public arena, the well-known consumer website hellopeter.com has registered 82 out of 121 records of people detailing their horror stories with the product. Rothschild said they were puzzled as to how their product had elements of sibutramine, as Simply Slim was a herbal and complementary medicine. "We fulfilled all the requirements under complementary medication according to the MCC guidelines," he added. "Previous tests conducted by the SABS (South African Bureau of Standards), the MCC and Chromadex - an independent laboratory in the US - have all indicated no traces of sibutramine. "So we were surprised that the tests have come back indicating positive traces of sibutramine, as that is not part of the original formula of Simply Slim." Rothschild said they became aware of this problem in late January. "It's impossible to determine which product contains sibutramine and which doesn't, but we are working in conjunction with MCC to recall all products in the market," said Rothschild. Customers who have Simply Slim capsules must return them to Simply Slim agents or sub- agents, or to the Simply Slim head office at 97 Nicolson Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria. Address any further enquiries to the Simply Slim Call Centre on 086 14 SIMPLY SLIM (086 14 746 759 7546). By Noor-Jehan Yoro Badat The Star 08/02/10e1 Click here to respond to this article - Your responses will get vetted and printed on "Have your Say" |
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