Weight Loss Drugs Recalled For Threat of Heart Failure and Cancer

Nine different kinds of weight loss pills and dietary supplements produced by two drug companies have been stripped from shelves after U.S. federal regulators found undeclared ingredients in them that put consumers at an increased risk of heart failure and even cancer.

Weight loss pills and dietary supplements produced by New Life Nutritional Center (NLNC) and Pure Edge Nutrition (PEN) LCC have been recalled after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laboratory testing has revealed that the products contain sibutramine and phenophthalein, two ingredients that federal regulators have declared pose a threat to consumer health.

Subutramine, an appetite suppressant, was banned in the U.S. market back in 2010 after investigators discovered the drug led to an increased risk of seizures, heart attack, heart palpitations, and stroke. According to the FDA, phenolophthalein was an ingredient once used in over-the-counter laxatives, but was identified as a carcinogen some years back, and has not been approved for U.S. marketing in any amount since that time.

According to FDA public health warning related to the drugs in question, these components were undeclared ingredients in the weight loss products. The manufacturers of the drugs are claiming no prior knowledge to the presence of these unapproved ingredients, and have elected to voluntarily recall all lots of the products.

The products in question include Super Fat Burner capsules, Maxi Gold capsules, and Esmeralda soft gels produced by NLNC and six varieties of Bella Vi weight loss capsules produced by PEN.

Both companies are reportedly notifying customers by letter or email about the recall, and offering a full refund for the returned products.

These recalls occurred in the wake of the recall of all U.S. supplies of Alli, another weight loss pill that has recently shown alarming signs of unexplained tampering.

Unlike these newer pills, Alli, a weight loss pill long present in the U.S. market, has not shown signs of containing sibutramine or phenophthalein.

The FDA released a report on the PEN product recall on March 26.

The FDA released a report on the NLNC product recall on March 25.