COIMBATORE:
Though most of us are well aware that there is no magic portion to lose
weight, we easily fall prey to the barrage of advertisements on weight loss
drugs making tall claims. Most claim to make the excess fat disappear
in an unbelievably short time span without having to endure the pains of
physical exercise. Presently, the dietary supplements industry has a
free reign, allowing firms to invade the market without essential checks
and curbs. However, the industry will soon be brought under the control
of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and manufacturers
and suppliers have been given time till February 2014 to obtain a valid
license from the authority. Until then, these products, many of them
unsafe and some of them even lethal, will continue to be sold in the
market, putting consumers at risk.
D Kumar, a resident of Ganapathy, is one victim of this free reign. He found the supplements prescribed for his wife and daughter by the obesity clinic at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, were unfit for consumption as per the norms of the Food Safety and Security Act. The product, sold at a very high price, was found to be misbranded and the slimming powder itself was found to have traces of fat content. "I was shocked when I got the results from the government approved laboratory. The fact that a doctor from a renowned hospital in the city had prescribed an unsafe product to my family is disconcerting," said D Kumar.
Dr Tamilselvi Periasamy had prescribed the dietary supplement called Slim Drink Starter Level 1 and Slim Drink Ultra Level -2 for the mother daughter duo. The product priced at Rs 850 (Level1) and Rs 750 (Level2) for 750 grams was purchased from the hospital pharmacy. When a sample was tested at the government approved laboratory, it was found to be just a mixture of wheat, ragi and cereal. But what is shocking is the fact that the samples were found to contain yeast and mould fungus, making it unsafe for consumption.
"We have sent the samples to the referral laboratory in Kolkata for final tests and the results are awaited," said R Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (Coimbatore).
An even more startling revelation is the collusion of doctors and manufacturers in selling these dubious drugs to the unsuspecting public. The Slim Drink prescribed by Dr Tamilselvi is manufactured and supplied through the label Slim and Trim owned by the doctor herself. When contacted, Dr Tamilselvi confirmed that she owned the firm but she said she has been prescribing the supplements to numerous patients and she has not received any complaint so far.
Speaking on behalf of KMCH, TC Dinamani, General Manager (human Resource) confirmed the incident, saying the product has been 'temporarily' withdrawn from the hospital pharmacy. "We have stopped selling the product at the moment although we continue to get queries from patients taking the supplement," Dr Tamilselvi claimed.
This multi crore industry classified as 'nutraceutical products' exists in the grey zone between regular food products and pharmaceutical drugs. There also seems to be a nexus between certain medical practitioners, officials and dietary supplement manufactures involved in this industry.
"First of all these dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are exempt from the drug price regulatory norms and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority norms. So they have a free reign in product pricing," said G Selvaraj, Former Director, Drug Control Department Tamil Nadu.
According to Kathiravan, Designated Officer Food Safety and Drug Administration, not even a single license or No Objection Certificate has been issued to any dietary supplement being sold in Coimbatore. Manufacturers have been given time till February 2014 to obtain license for their products but special prohibitory orders could be issued from the office of Commissioner of Food Safety Office whenever specific complaints arise.
"Not even a single manufacturer or Food Business Operator involved in the sale of dietary supplements have approached us for NOC and product approval. The product license will be given only after we issue the initial NOC and product approval," Kathiravan added.
D Kumar, a resident of Ganapathy, is one victim of this free reign. He found the supplements prescribed for his wife and daughter by the obesity clinic at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, were unfit for consumption as per the norms of the Food Safety and Security Act. The product, sold at a very high price, was found to be misbranded and the slimming powder itself was found to have traces of fat content. "I was shocked when I got the results from the government approved laboratory. The fact that a doctor from a renowned hospital in the city had prescribed an unsafe product to my family is disconcerting," said D Kumar.
Dr Tamilselvi Periasamy had prescribed the dietary supplement called Slim Drink Starter Level 1 and Slim Drink Ultra Level -2 for the mother daughter duo. The product priced at Rs 850 (Level1) and Rs 750 (Level2) for 750 grams was purchased from the hospital pharmacy. When a sample was tested at the government approved laboratory, it was found to be just a mixture of wheat, ragi and cereal. But what is shocking is the fact that the samples were found to contain yeast and mould fungus, making it unsafe for consumption.
"We have sent the samples to the referral laboratory in Kolkata for final tests and the results are awaited," said R Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (Coimbatore).
An even more startling revelation is the collusion of doctors and manufacturers in selling these dubious drugs to the unsuspecting public. The Slim Drink prescribed by Dr Tamilselvi is manufactured and supplied through the label Slim and Trim owned by the doctor herself. When contacted, Dr Tamilselvi confirmed that she owned the firm but she said she has been prescribing the supplements to numerous patients and she has not received any complaint so far.
Speaking on behalf of KMCH, TC Dinamani, General Manager (human Resource) confirmed the incident, saying the product has been 'temporarily' withdrawn from the hospital pharmacy. "We have stopped selling the product at the moment although we continue to get queries from patients taking the supplement," Dr Tamilselvi claimed.
This multi crore industry classified as 'nutraceutical products' exists in the grey zone between regular food products and pharmaceutical drugs. There also seems to be a nexus between certain medical practitioners, officials and dietary supplement manufactures involved in this industry.
"First of all these dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are exempt from the drug price regulatory norms and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority norms. So they have a free reign in product pricing," said G Selvaraj, Former Director, Drug Control Department Tamil Nadu.
According to Kathiravan, Designated Officer Food Safety and Drug Administration, not even a single license or No Objection Certificate has been issued to any dietary supplement being sold in Coimbatore. Manufacturers have been given time till February 2014 to obtain license for their products but special prohibitory orders could be issued from the office of Commissioner of Food Safety Office whenever specific complaints arise.
"Not even a single manufacturer or Food Business Operator involved in the sale of dietary supplements have approached us for NOC and product approval. The product license will be given only after we issue the initial NOC and product approval," Kathiravan added.
please may i know the test results of the above mentioned product that is prescribed by Dr.Tamil selvi and also the side effects/harmness of its consumers.Pls let me know it.
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