Botanical Slimming 100% Natural Soft Gel, also sold as Meizitang

Foreign Product Alert
2010-77
May 17, 2010
For immediate release

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the products specified below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info

Source of Alert

Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration

Product Names

Botanical Slimming 100% Natural Soft Gel, also sold as Meizitang

Manufacturer / Place of Origin

Manufactured by Kunming Dali Industry & Trade Co. Ltd.

Product Description

Botanical Slimming 100% Natural Soft Gel, also sold as Meizitang, is promoted as a natural herbal product used for weight loss.

Reason for Warning

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration warned consumers not to buy or use this product after it was found to contain undeclared sibutramine.

Sibutramine is a prescription drug used to treat obesity. It should only be taken under the supervision of a health care practitioner.

This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet. One or more shipments have been stopped at the Canadian border. Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians as necessary should it determine that the product is being sold in Canada.

Possible Side-Effects

Side-effects associated with sibutramine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation.

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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site.

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These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.