SINGAPORE: Consumers are advised not to buy or consume ChoCo Premix Coffee, which is marketed as a weight-loss product, as it contains a banned substance that could lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The banned substance, sibutramine, is a prescription-only weight loss medicine that has been banned in Singapore since 2010, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday (July 15).
Serious health consequences reported with its consumption include heart problems and central nervous system disorders such as psychosis and hallucinations, as well as seizures.
ChoCo Premix Coffee is available on multiple local e-commerce platforms and is promoted as a weight-loss product. It claims to support weight loss, prevent muscle loss, speed up fat burning, eliminate fat, reduce hunger, improve constipation, repair muscles and increase muscle mass.
The SFA has worked with various online e-commerce platforms to remove listings of the product and has issued warnings to the respective sellers to stop selling the product immediately.
Those who have purchased the product are advised to avoid consuming it and seek medical advice if concerned about their health.
SFA also advises consumers to exercise caution when consuming food bought from unverified sources and to seek more information before making a purchase.
The agency said it “will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells and supplies unsafe food products that are adulterated with banned substances or potent ingredients”.
Sellers of unsafe food may face fines of up to $5,000 for the first offence, while repeat offenders may be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to three months. - The Straits Times/ANN
