13 Slimming Products Taken Off The Shelves

June 21st, 2007 impress Posted in News |

At the Johor State Assembly: 13 slimming products taken off the shelves.

And one member’s age and the condition of his bladder came up during the discussion, to laughter from the floor.

Replying to a question from Ng See Tiong (BN-Parit Yaani), state Local Government and Health Committee chairman Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique said the registration of 13 slimming products was cancelled as some of them contained fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine and sibutramine.

She said some of these substances were also found in traditional slimming pills and posed a health risk to users.

She commented that men were now as interested in slimming products as women and said: “Many men who are concerned about their health and want to live longer have also consumed slimming products …They have forked out a lot of money to buy these products, not realising they can do more harm than good.”

Among others, she said the side effects of the products which contain these substances were more frequent urination among diabetics, dry mouth, insomnia, headache, high blood pressure and heart disorders.At this point Low Teh Hian (BN-Pengkalan Rinting) stood up and said: “I have diabetes. How come I do not have increased urination? I sit in the House for at least three hours a day but I have no urge to go to the toilet. Why is that so?” he asked.Halimah replied she was speaking generally about the side effects of slimming pills that contain banned substances, adding that people respond differently.”Yang Berhormat, your lack of urination is probably because you are old; your response is, therefore, slow too,” she said, drawing laughter from the floor.

Halimah said a sample analysis of slimming products must be done to ensure they were not adulterated with dangerous substances such as fenfluramine, phentermine and sibutramine, which have been banned under the Poison Act 1952.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/20070621075459/Article/index_html