HSA Alert: 'Clinic K' and 'RO Slim Booster' Found to Contain Banned Substance, 'Rozell Detox' Detected with Potent Laxative

'Clinic K' caused rapid heartbeat and breathlessness in consumer

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not to purchase or consume the three products below which were marketed on multiple e-commerce platforms as weight loss products. HSA tested the products and found them to contain potent medicinal ingredients, including sibutramine, a banned substance, and sennoside, a potent laxative. The three products are:

Product name	Potent medicinal ingredients
‘Clinic K’	Sibutramine
‘RO Slim Booster’	Sibutramine
‘Rozell Detox’	Sennoside

 

Please refer to Annex A for photos of the products and Annex B for the possible adverse effects of the two medicinal ingredients found in these products.

Consumer experienced adverse effects after taking 'Clinic K'

2        HSA received feedback from consumers regarding the online sale of ‘Clinic K’. They experienced extreme thirst, rapid heartbeat, dizziness and loss of appetite after taking the product. One of them, a woman in her 40s, developed rapid heartbeat, breathlessness and dizziness after taking the product for two days. Even after she had reduced the dose to half what was recommended for the product, and stopped taking the product after five days, these symptoms persisted for a few weeks.

3        ‘Clinic K’ was marketed to be of “safe medical grade” and the “No. 1 clinical weight-loss formula in Korea”.  It claimed to contain natural ingredients such as amino acids, green tea extract, and other botanical extracts. However, HSA’s tests revealed that the product contained high levels of sibutramine. Sibutramine was previously a prescription-only-medicine for weight loss but has been banned in Singapore since 2010 because of an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The level of sibutramine detected in the product was double the maximum daily dose previously allowed.

4        Some of the marketing materials also included a “warning” of potential effects such as nausea, dizziness, restlessness and rapid heartbeat due to the product’s “caffeine content”. This misleads consumers into thinking that the effects are normal and expected. These effects are in fact some of the adverse effects associated with sibutramine.

‘Rozell Detox’ and ‘RO Slim Booster’ marketed  as natural products to mislead consumers 

5        HSA received feedback from a member of public on the online product listings of ‘Rozell Detox’ which carried reviews of consumers experiencing profuse sweating and rapid heartbeat. HSA tested ‘Rozell Detox’ as well as ‘RO Slim Booster’, which was sold as an accompanying product. HSA’s tests revealed that ‘RO Slim Booster’ also contained sibutramine, a banned substance, while ‘Rozell Detox’ contained sennoside, a potent laxative. ‘Rozell Detox’ was marketed to contain natural ingredients such as fruit powder and fruit extracts while ‘RO Slim Booster’ was marketed as a diet control product.

6        ‘Clinic K’, ‘Rozell Detox’ and ‘RO Slim Booster’ are sold on local e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Carousell, Qoo10, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. HSA is working with the local website administrators of the online platforms to take down the affected listings. HSA has also informed INTERPOL and our Korean counterparts about ’Clinic K’, and is working with our Malaysian counterparts on ‘Rozell Detox’ and ‘RO Slim Booster’.

Advisory to consumers

7        Consumers are advised to:

• Stop taking ‘Clinic K’, ‘Rozell Detox’ and/or ‘RO Slim Booster’ immediately and consult a doctor if you feel unwell or are concerned about your health.
• Be wary of health products that carry exaggerated claims such as “results guaranteed”, “accelerate weight loss”, “no side effects”, or deliver unexpectedly quick and miraculous effects. Do not trust online product reviews, as these testimonials usually cannot be verified.
• Avoid purchasing health products from unfamiliar sources, and exercise caution when buying such products online.
• There is no quick and easy way to lose weight. Weight control should be achieved through a combination of balanced diet and appropriate exercise. If you need help managing your weight, please consult your doctor, dietitian or a healthcare professional.

Advisory to sellers and suppliers 

8        All sellers and suppliers must stop selling these products immediately. It is illegal to sell and supply such products, which contain banned substances or potent medicinal ingredients. Sellers and suppliers are liable to prosecution and if convicted, may be imprisoned for up to 2 years and/or fined up to $10,000.

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Published: 22 Jun 2020

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