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A 49-year-old man was arrested today (November 7) in a joint operation by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police in Mong Kok for suspected illegal sale of a slimming product labelled as containing a Part I poison. The slimming product in question is called Fat Burner. It was labelled as containing DNP (dinitrophenol), a chemical which can be dangerous to health.
Acting on intelligence, it was found that the above product was being offered for sale on the Internet. The seller was arrested by the Police during the operation today.
"Dinitrophenol is a Part I poison which has been used as a herbicide. It is an industrial chemical and is not fit for human consumption. When consumed, dinitrophenol can be extremely dangerous to human health, possibly leading to coma and death. Signs of acute poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and irregular heartbeat.
According to the UK Food Standards Agency, there have been cases of death of young people after they have taken the substance," a DH spokesman explained.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), illegal sale or possession of Part I poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH spokesman strongly urged members of the public not to buy or consume products of unknown or doubtful composition or from unknown sources. People who have purchased the above product should stop consuming it and consult health-care professionals immediately.
"Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult health-care professionals before using any medication for weight control," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, November 7, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:54
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