2 products containing banned substances are still sold on social networks
The Food Safety Department - Ministry of Health has just announced the nationwide recall of 2 products Phuc Linh Gold and Best Slim Collagen for detection containing the banned substance Sibutramine.
Health protection foods Phuc Linh Gold spring rolls ( batch number 11 2023, production date 1.11.2023, expiration date 1.11.2026). The trader importing, distributing and responsible for the quality of goods is EU YB Joint Stock Company, address: Group 20, Minh Tan Ward, Yen Bai City. The label of this product states that it is manufactured at Austin Biologic & Technology Limited Austin Road West Level 206, International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong (China).
Best Slim Collagen health protection food ( batch number 29L367, expired in January 2027). The trader importing, distributing and responsible for the quality of goods is Hoa Anh Dao Medical Equipment Company Limited, address: Hamlet 4, Hai Boi Village, Hai Boi Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi.
The product label states that it originated from the US, produced by: Arnet Pharmaceutical, 2525 Davie Road, Bldg 330. Davied, Florida 33317.
According to a survey by reporters, currently, 2 products named Phuc Linh Gold Spring Shapes and Best Slim Collagen with packaging and labels similar to the image of the Food Safety Department are still being sold widely on e-commerce platforms, social networks, websites...
Phuc Linh Gold Spring Fruit is introduced as a health protection food that supports safe weight loss, helps burn excess fat and limit cravings.
The selling price of this product ranges from 400,000 to 550,000 VND/box of 30 pills.
Similarly, Best Slim Collagen products are also advertised with weight loss support, priced from 650,000 VND to 850,000 VND/box of 40 pills.
The hospital has received many patients with Sibutramine poisoning
Sibutramine is on the list of banned substances used in the production and sale of health protection foods. Health experts warn that Sibutramine has many toxicities and side effects, the genetic structure of Sibutramine is similar to the drug Amphetamine, which is very dangerous.
Sibutramine is often overused in weight loss products thanks to its ability to reduce cravings. However, this active ingredient poses a serious health risk, especially for people with cardiovascular disease and blood pressure.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital said: Sibutramine is a substance that has been banned for use in humans, because this substance can cause damage, risk of stroke, arthritis, and myocardial infarction.
The Poison Control Center has received many patients with food poisoning, weight loss coffees... containing sibutramine, and even patients with coma, seizures, and brain damage.
For example, recently a female patient (21 years old, Hanoi) was infected with sibutramine poisoning, severe brain damage due to taking drugs and functional foods for weight loss of unknown origin purchased on Tiktok.
The patient was in a private hospital in a state of unconsciousness and did not respond to calls. Here, the doctor discovered that the brain had images of damage to the hills and towns on both sides. The patient was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital for further treatment and was also found to have weight loss drugs containing sibutramine.
Another case was female patient P.T.H (female, 26 years old) who was poisoned due to using a body detox product containing the banned substance sibutramine. The patient was admitted to Bach Mai Hospital with sudden loss of vision in the eye, and had 2 vision loss.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen said that patient H used the weight loss product for about 10 days and had very obvious symptoms of neurological, eye, and brain damage, if used for a long time, it could affect her life. Patients buy this product (with the banned substance sibutramine) online to advertise for weight loss.
In Vietnam, since 2010, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) has stopped granting import licenses for Sibutramine and on April 14, 2011, officially suspended circulation and recalled all drugs containing this active ingredient due to unwanted effects. Sibutramine is currently on the list of banned substances used in the production and trading of health protection foods according to Circular No. 10/2021/TT-BYT.
Many other medical facilities have also recorded many cases of food poisoning for health protection, in which weight loss coffee contains Sibutramine. Many patients have come to a coma, convulsions, brain damage... because of this substance.
Previously, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) said it had received a report from the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene testing on the results of testing monitoring samples and detecting health protection foods of Phuc Linh Gold and Best Slim Collagen containing the banned substance Sibutramine.
The Food Safety Department recommends that people do not buy, use, or trade the two above-mentioned batches of health protection food, and at the same time request localities to recall and handle violations according to regulations.
