S&S Super Slender

Starting date:

May 17, 2010

Posting date:

May 17, 2010

Type of communication:

Foreign Product Alert (FPA)

Subcategory:

Natural health products

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Unauthorized products

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-120001481

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These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Source of alert

Hong Kong Department of Health

Product names

S&S Super Slender

Manufacturer / Place of origin

According to product label, the product is manufactured by Beijing Hualin Qiye (Jituan) Youxian Gongsi.

Product description

S&S Super Slender is promoted as an herbal product for weight loss.

Reason for warning

The Hong Kong Department of Health warned consumers not to buy or use S&S Super Slender after two samples were found to contain an unauthorized substance similar to sibutramine. One of the tested samples also contained undeclared sibutramine and phenolphthalein. Sibutramine is a prescription drug used to treat obesity. It should only be taken under the supervision of a health care practitioner. Unauthorized substances similar to sibutramine may pose similar health risks.

Possible side effects

Side-effects associated with sibutramine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation. In addition to an increased risk of cancer, side-effects associated with phenolphthalein include decreased blood pressure, skin rash and gastrointestinal bleeding.

What you should do

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
• Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax

Media enquiries

Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Public enquiries

(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709

Images

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