SCH warning on herbal products

Qatar’s Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has warned against the consumption of a number of herbal products used for weight loss, as they contain the globally-restricted Sibutramine which has dangerous side effects. The products include Fat-burning and Slimming Green Tea (American product), Coffee Fast (Chinese product), Brazilian Slimming Coffee (American product), and Green Coffee 800 (American product), Director of the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department at the SCH Aisha Ibrahim al-Ansari said yesterday. The Drug Control lab has conducted tests on samples which have arrived to the country through personal parcels and the warning has followed, she indicated. Testing has shown traces of Sibutramine, hence indicating that the products are not 100% natural as claimed, al-Ansari said adding that the substance is not listed in the nutrition facts which classifies them as adulterated herbal formulas. The SCH Pharmacy and Drug Control Department has underlined that such products are not licensed nor registered in Qatar, and they are imported through personal parcels.from gulf times.