A pattern of undisclosed chemical and drug ingredients present in over-the-counter diet aids prompted the FDA to examine a larger sampling of products, be aware that not all non-prescription diet aids sold in stores and the internet are scrutinized by the FDA, when possible, play it safe and buy from reputable suppliers. The list below includes products not named in the recall alerts reported elsewhere on this site.

Almost all of the products named contained sibutramine, active ingredient in the obesity drug Meridia, some contained 300% of recommended dosage, presenting a risk of increased blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitations, and seizure

The dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products are safe before they are marketed. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements.

Note that since this report was last reviewed, 04/20/2009, some makers may have rectified the problem.

The FDA laboratory tests have revealed the presence of sibutramine, fenproporex, fluoxetine, bumetanide, furosemide, phenytoin, rimonabant, cetilistat, and phenolphthalein in weight loss products being sold over-the-counter.  The tainted products and the undeclared drug and/or chemical contaminant are listed below.

Product(s) Name – Contaminant Name(s)

1.   2 Day Diet – sibutramine
2.   2 Day Diet Slim Advance – sibutramine
3.   2x Powerful Slimming – sibutramine
4.   3 Day Diet – sibutramine
5.   3 Days Fit – sibutramine
6.   3x Slimming Power – sibutramine, phenytoin
7.   5x Imelda Perfect Slimming – sibutramine
8.   7 Day Herbal Slim – sibutramine
9.   7 Days Diet – sibutramine
10.   7 Diet – sibutramine
11.   7 Diet Day/Night Formula – sibutramine
12.   8 Factor Diet – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
13.   Eight Factor Diet – sibutramine
14.   21 Double Slim – sibutramine
15.   24 Hours Diet – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
16.   999 Fitness Essence – sibutramine
17.   BioEmagrecim, sample 1 – fenproporex, sample 2 – fluoxetine, furosemide
18.   Body Creator – sibutramine
19.   Body Shaping – sibutramine
20.   Body Slimming – sibutramine
21.   Cosmo Slim – sibutramine
22.   Extrim Plus – sibutramine, phenytoin
23.   Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn – sibutramine
24.   Fasting Diet – sibutramine
25.   Fatloss Slimming – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
26.   GMP – sibutramine
27.   Herbal Xenicol – cetilistat
28.   Imelda Fat Reducer – sibutramine
29.   Imelda Perfect Slim – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
30.   JM Fat Reducer – sibutramine
31.   Lida DaiDaihua – sibutramine
32.   Meili – sibutramine
33.   Meizitang – sibutramine
34.   Miaozi MeiMiaoQianZiJiaoNang – sibutramine
35.   Miaozi Slim Capsules – sibutramine
36.   Natural Model – sibutramine
37.   Perfect Slim – sibutramine
38.   Perfect Slim 5x – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
39.   Perfect Slim Up – sibutramine
40.   Phyto Shape – rimonabant
41.   Powerful Slim – sibutramine
42.   ProSlim Plus – sibutramine
43.   Reduce Weihgt – sibutramine
44.   Royal Slimming Formula – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
45.   Sana Plus – sibutramine
46.   Slim 3 in 1 – sibutramine
47.   Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Formula – sibutramine
48.   Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Waist Formula – sibutramine
49.   Slim 3 in 1 M18 Royal Diet – sibutramine
50.   Slim 3 in 1 Slim Formula – sibutramine
51.   Slim Burn – sibutramine
52.   Slim Express 4 in 1 – sibutramine
53.   Slim Express 360 – sibutramine
54.   *Slim Fast – sibutramine (Not the meal replacement brand)
55.   Slim Tech – sibutramine
56.   Slim Up – sibutramine
57.   Slim Waist Formula – sibutramine
58.   Slim Waistline – sibutramine
59.   Slimbionic- sibutramine
60.   Sliminate – sibutramine
61.   Slimming Formula – sibutramine
62.   Somotrim – sibutramine
63.   Starcaps – bumetanide
64.   Super Fat Burner – sibutramine
65.   Superslim – sibutramine, phenolphthalein
66.   Super Slimming – sibutramine
67.   Trim 2 Plus – sibutramine
68.   Triple Slim – sibutramine
69.   Venom Hyperdrive 3.0 – sibutramine
70.   Waist Strength Formula – sibutramine
71.   Xsvelten – sibutramine
72.   Zhen de Shou – sibutramine, phenolphthalein

If you ave taken any of the products list above, you may want to visit the FDA site to see a more comprehensive description of the contaminant.

Abbreviated descriptions of the mentioned contaminants:

Bumetanide – prescription diuretic, toxic drug interaction, low blood pressure.

Cetilistat – experimental obesity drug in clinical trials in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

Fenproporex – amphetamine derivative stimulant not approved for sale in the U.S.

Fluoxetine – active pharmaceutical ingredient in Prozac, a prescription antidepressant.

Furosemide – active pharmaceutical ingredient in Lasix, a potent diuretic.

Phenolphthalein – Laxative ingredient “not generally recognized as safe and effective”.

Phenytoin – ingredient in Dilantin, anti-seizure medication (trace amounts only found).

Rimonabant – active ingredient in Zimulti aka Acomplia associated with seizures, depression, anxiety, insomnia, aggressiveness.

Sibutramine – active pharmaceutical ingredient in Meridia, an obesity drug. In some samples 3x the recommended dose was found, excessive dosages may cause increased blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitations, and seizure.