Alarm raised over imported diet pills

Swissmedic is responsible for checking the safety of medicines in Switzerland Keystone

The vast majority of diet pills imported illegally into Switzerland from the Far East contain uncontrolled active ingredients that may represent a health risk, according to a study by Swissmedic, the Swiss agency for Therapeutic products.

In a survey of 61 illegally imported slimming products, the Swiss agency responsible for overseeing the safety of medicines found that over three-quarters contained undeclared active ingredients.

“The results show that the consumption of imported weight-loss preparations involves substantial risks,” the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

Over half contained the appetite suppressant sibutramine, which was taken off the global market in 2010 after dangerous side-effects emerged. Sibutramine increased the chances of having a non-fatal heart attack or stroke.

Swissmedic said demand for diet pills increases in spring and many people place orders over the internet without knowing what they are going to receive.

The agency found that out of 41 so-called “natural” or “herbal” products, 35 contained dangerous chemical ingredients. Out of ten coffee-based slimming drinks, eight contained synthetic ingredients. One coffee bag contained 45mg of sibutramine – three times the maximum daily dosage. Four products were bags containing fruit juice powder, three of which contained undeclared harmful ingredients.

Other undeclared active ingredients found in products included painkillers (paracetamol), anti-inflammatories (diclofenac) and antidepressants (fluoxetine), none of which was declared.