Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15412

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Call for Mega Slim action
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2009 Apr 8
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

HEALTH academic Ken Harvey has requested that the Therapeutic Goods Administration issue an urgent recall of a weight loss product named Mega Slim because he believes it “constitutes a potentially life threatening or serious risk to health.”

He’s lodged an official complaint about the product which is widely promoted on the internet and in
some health food shops, with claims such as “it stands out as a premium fat burner” and it’s a
“fast acting thermogenic amplifier.”

Harvey said neither the product or its sponsor are listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic
Goods and there’s no scientific evidence that its ingredients, including citrus aurantium (bitter
orange) and green tea are an aid to weight loss.

Recommended daily doses of 10ml equate to 12000mg of citrus aurantium, and Harvey said “much smaller doses have been associated with serious side effects” including adverse cardiovascular reactions.

He’s asking the TGA to issue a Class I product recall including stock recall and retraction of claims.

Harvey has also taken exception to other products promoted at www.nextgenerationsupplements.com
including that ‘Green Tea Capsules’ are efficacious against cancer.

“I suggest that the TGA investigate all products and all claims made by this company,” Harvey said.