Press Release

Public urged not to consume slimming product with undeclared drug ingredients

4 Mar 2010

Members of the public are urged not to buy or consume a slimming product named "Marsha Slim Plus" as it was found to contain undeclared western drug ingredients that may cause serious side effects.

Product samples were obtained in a shop in Mong Kok. Laboratory results on them showed the presence of sibutramine and its analogue, as well as phenolphthalein.

The product was offered for sale in “Marsha Health Care Formula” packs containing a 60-capsule bottle of "Marsha Slim Plus" and 30 “Marsha” teabags.

The Department of Health mounted an operation this afternoon, resulting in the seizure of 27 bottles of the above product. A 64-year-old woman was arrested during the operation.

A department spokesman said sibutramine is a western medicine used as an appetite suppressant.

He said: "Its side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, psychosis and possibly convulsion. People with heart problems should not take it."

Sibutramine analogues, being chemically similar to sibutramine, are expected to have the same side effects as sibutramine.

Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.

A product containing sibutramine must be registered before it can be sold in Hong Kong. It can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.

The spokesman exhorted members of the public not to buy or sell products of unknown or doubtful composition.

He said sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

People should stop using the products immediately. They should consult a doctor if they feel unwell after taking the products.

They should destroy and dispose of the products or submit them to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours.

"Weight control should be achieved through good diet and appropriate exercise. They should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control," the spokesman said.