Officials are tracing the source of a weight-loss product containing banned sibutramine and searching for those responsible after a woman’s death.
BANGKOK, Thailand – Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Supamas Isarabhakdi has ordered a multiagency investigation into the death of a woman who died after consuming a weight-loss supplement found to contain sibutramine, a banned and potentially dangerous substance. Authorities said the seller remains at large. Minister Supamas tasked the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) with working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other relevant agencies to trace the product, identify those responsible, pursue legal action, and assist affected consumers. Officials said the case remains under investigation, and no final determination on the cause of death has been made.
Authorities are examining the product’s ingredients, labeling, and advertising claims while tracing shipping routes and payment channels linked to the seller. Preliminary findings indicate that the seller used false registration information, with registered identities and addresses that differ from those of the actual operators, who have since cut off communication. Officials also found that similar weight-loss products continue to be sold on some online platforms. The OCPB said it would pursue legal action under laws governing direct marketing and unsafe products while continuing efforts to identify those responsible and seek compensation for victims. (NNT)
