The public has been advised by the management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to cease using and purchasing a product called Weight Rapid Loss Capsule, produced by Ingi Oman.
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) has advised against using the Weight Rapid Loss Capsule due to its potential to cause cancer, according to a notification posted by the management on the Agency’s website on December 20, 2022, and titled Public Alert No. 049/2022 – Alert on the UAE health authority warning against consumption of weight loss pills.
The product is being sold illegally on social media sites like Instagram and is advertised as the “most effective weight loss supplement.”
The pills were found to contain the illegal drug “phenolphthalein,” which has been deemed dangerous by the US Food and Drug Administration, according to laboratory testing results. Additionally, it has microbial development that is beyond what is allowed.
Genes have been proven to be harmful to phenolphthalein because they can harm or change DNA. Additionally, studies have revealed its possible carcinogenic dangers.
The management further stated that “NAFDAC urges consumers to cease purchasing and using the product. People who have the product in their possession should stop using or selling it and deliver any remaining stock to the NAFDAC office that is closest to them.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are urged to contact the nearest NAFDAC office about any adverse product effects they may have by emailing pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, using one of the online reporting tools available at www.nafdac.gov.ng, or downloading the Med-safety app from the Google Play or Apple App Store.
