The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has detected four food products that have been adulterated with banned and/or medicinal substances that are not allowed in food.
The four products are:
Sausando Slimming Coffee – Frusemide, Phenolphthalein, and Sibutramine.
Sausando Slimming Tea – Frusemide, Phenolphthalein, and Sibutramine.
Unique Good Morning Candies – Sibutramine
Unique Good Night Candies – Sennosides
2 All four products are sold on various local e-commerce platforms and marketed as weight loss products with claims of fat burner, effective weight loss, appetite suppressant, detoxify, control hunger, help digestion, and acceleration of metabolism.
SFA has worked with these online e-commerce platforms to remove the listings of the products and issued warnings to the respective sellers to stop selling the products with immediate effect.
4 SFA will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells and supplies unsafe food products that have been adulterated with banned and/or medicinal substances that are not allowed in food. Under Section 15 of Singapore’s Sale of Food Act, the sale of unsafe food is not permitted. Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
5 Consumers who have purchased the implicated products should not consume it. Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.
Consumers should also exercise caution and be mindful of the risks associated with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources and are advised to seek more information before making any purchase.
6 Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply of these unsafe food products may write in to SFA at www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback.
Issued by SFA
17 September 2024
*Substance Information:
Frusemide (also known as Furosemide) is listed in the Poisons Act (1938). It is a medication commonly used for the treatment of oedema (swelling due to fluid retention) due to burns, cardiac, hepatic, or renal
disorders, and for mild to moderate high blood pressure. Common side effects include dehydration, low blood pressure, low sodium levels and low potassium levels in blood. Excessive use of Frusemide may lead to electrolyte disturbances, low blood or fluid volume, circulatory collapse, and increased concentration of blood cells from loss of plasma or water from blood with a tendency to thrombosis (formation of blood clot in blood vessel).
Phenolphthalein is listed in the Poisons Act (1938). It is a stimulant laxative used for symptomatic relief from constipation. Common side effects include abdominal cramps, allergic reactions, difficulty
breathing and kidney damage. Excessive use of Phenolphthalein may result in diarrhoea with excessive loss of water and electrolytes, particularly potassium, and the development of an atonic nonfunctioning colon.
Sennosides is used for the relief of constipation and has not been assessed to be safe for use in food products. Common side effects of Sennosides may include abdominal pain, spasms, diarrhoea, and low potassium levels in the blood leading to muscle weakness and/or cramps. Prolonged use of Sennosides may lead to a lazy bowel (bowel muscles become too relaxed leading to less frequent bowel emptying,
which may lead to long-term constipation) and dehydration.
Sibutramine is listed in the Poisons Act (1938). It is a prescription only weight loss medicine banned in Singapore since 2010, due to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other serious health
consequences reported with its use include heart problems and central nervous system disorders (e.g. psychosis and hallucinations). Seizures have also been reported with sibutramine.
