Banned weight-loss substance found in coffee premixes increases risk of heart attack and stroke

SINGAPORE: Sibutramine, a weight loss substance banned in Singapore, was detected in a food product sold on various e-commerce platforms in Singapore, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday (July 15).

Consumers are advised not to buy or consume ChoCo Premix coffee because it contains chocolate and Hoodia extract, which has been touted as an appetite suppressant.

ChoCo Premix Coffee is marketed as a weight loss product, claiming to have a number of benefits, including weight loss, preventing muscle loss, accelerating fat burning, removing fat, reducing hunger, improving constipation, repairing muscles, and increasing muscle mass.

Although the product’s packaging says “Formulated in the USA,” its country of origin is unknown and not listed.

“The State Forestry Administration has cooperated with major e-commerce platforms to remove the product from their shelves and issued a warning to the relevant sellers, requiring them to immediately stop selling the product,” the State Forestry Administration said.

Sibutramine is a prescription weight loss drug that has been banned in Singapore since 2010 due to its increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Other serious health consequences of using the drug have been reported, including central nervous system disorders, such as psychosis and hallucinations, and heart problems.

There have also been reports that sibutramine can cause seizures.

The Singapore Food Agency advises people who have purchased ChoCo Premix coffee not to drink it. People who have purchased it should seek medical advice if they are concerned about their health.

“Consumers should also exercise caution and be aware of the risks associated with consuming food purchased from unknown or unverified sources and are advised to seek more information before purchasing,” the National Food Agency said.

The agency also said it will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against anyone selling and supplying unsafe food adulterated with banned substances or potent ingredients.

Those convicted face a fine of not more than S$5,000 (US$3,700). A second or subsequent conviction carries a possible fine of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both.