Press Release

Public urged not to consume a slimming product with undeclared ingredient

8 May 2008

The Department of Health (DH) today (May 8) urged members of the public not to buy or use a slimming product called “Li Da Dai Dai Hua Jiao Nang” (麗達代代花膠囊) because it was found to have contained an undeclared ingredient that may cause serious side effect.

The appeal was made after the department's investigations into a report by the Hospital Authority involving a 17-year-old male patient who felt unwell after taking the product.

The patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of North District Hospital on April 15 due to auditory hallucination for two weeks. He was then transferred to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital for treatment. His symptoms subsided and he was later discharged on April 18.

The patient claimed that he had taken the above product, which he bought from the Internet in July last year.

A spokesman for the department said that the patient's urine samples and the drug remnant revealed the presence of N-desmethyl-sibutramine, an analogue of sibutramine, which is known to be associated with psychosis.

Members of the public who have used the product are urged to stop taking it immediately and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they feel unwell.

They should submit it to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours, destroy them before disposal.

The spokesman reiterated that a balanced diet and exercise are crucial factors in keeping fit and healthy. Members of the public who want to reduce weight are advised to consult their healthcare professionals first.