BERN: 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.
