Police look into deaths linked to Lyn-brand weight-loss products

By The Nation

 

 

Fresh on the heels of an investigation into Magic Skin beauty products, police are now looking at another well-known brand, Lyn, after its weight-loss products were allegedly found to contain two dangerous substances.

 

Deputy national police chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta said the products might contain the appetite suppressant Sibutramine and the laxative Bisacodyl.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2010 ordered that production of Sibutramine be discontinued.

 

Weerachai said four people who had ingested the products had died, allegedly from side effects.

 

A 31-year-old woman in Kanchanaburi had taken the pills for 30 days and died on March 28. The medical examiner’s preliminary ruling was that she died of acute heart failure.

 

A 33-year-old Bangkok man who had taken the pills for 10 days died on April 6 after suffering a stroke and losing consciousness.

 

A 48-year-old Pathum Thani man who had taken the pills for more than a month died on April 27, with preliminary tests indicating acute heart failure.

 

The fourth person was said in social media posts to have died on April 28 after taking the pills.

 

Weerachai said the four were reportedly physically strong, working-age people The first three had in common tightness in the chest and loss of consciousness before they died

 

He said the FDA had issued a warning on April 25 that the Lyn product in a white box contained Sibutramine and its product in a black box contained Bisacodyl and both could have dangerous side effects

 

Weerachai urged anyone taking the products reportedly manufactured by Pathum Thani-based Foodscience Supply Service Co and distributed by Akeakkarin Co should stop for safety’s sake.

 

Anyone selling the products directly or online could be charged with violating the Food Act, a crime punishable by up to two years in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt20,000

 

Weerachai said police would summon the products’ owner, identified as Pilapat Akeakkarin, 40, who could be charged with manslaughter if the four deaths are confirmed to be linked to the pills

 

The FDA and other agencies are meanwhile seizing food supplements from store shelves whose packaging allegedly carries FDA registration numbers allocated to a different kind of food, fish sauce

 

Retailers and distributors face charges of handling products whose contents don’t match the ingredients listed on the labels, and of colluding to set up a food factory without permission and to manufacture and sell fake food products, Weerachai said.

 

As is the case with Magic Skin products, celebrities promote these supplements in “product review” advertisements They are to be summoned for questioning.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344292

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-30

Police investigate deaths linked to Lyn weight-loss products

By The Nation

 

 

FRESH ON the heels of an investigation into Magic Skin beauty products, police are now looking at another well-known brand, Lyn, after its weight-loss products were allegedly found to contain two dangerous substances.

 

Deputy national police chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta yesterday afternoon presided over a press conference at the Government Complex on Bangkok’s Chaeng Wattana Road to announce the seizure of Lyn products worth Bt24 million.

 

Lyn weight-loss products might contain the appetite suppressant Sibutramine and the laxative Bisacodyl, police said.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2010 ordered that production of Sibutramine be discontinued.

 

FDA had issued a warning on April 25 that the Lyn product in a white box contained Sibutramine and its product in a black box contained Bisacodyl and both could have dangerous side effects.

 

Weerachai had previously said on Sunday that four people who had ingested the products had died, allegedly from side effects.

 

A 31-year-old woman in Kanchanaburi had taken the pills for 30 days and died on March 28. The medical examiner’s preliminary ruling was that she died of acute heart failure.

 

A 33-year-old Bangkok man who had taken the pills for 10 days died on April 6 after suffering a stroke and losing consciousness.

 

A 48-year-old Pathum Thani man who had taken the pills for more than a month died on April 27, with preliminary tests indicating acute heart failure.

 

The fourth person was said in social media posts to have died on April 28 after taking the pills. Weerachai had said the four were reportedly physically strong, working-age people.The first three experienced in common tightness in the chest and loss of consciousness before they died.

 

Weerachai urged anyone taking the Lyn products distributed by Akeakkarin Co should stop in the interest of their own safety. Anyone selling Lyn products directly or online could be charged with violating the Food Act, a crime punishable by up to two years in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt20,000.

 

Weerachai said police would summon the products’ owner, identified as Pilapat Akeakkarin, 40, who could be charged with manslaughter if the four deaths are confirmed to be linked to the pills.

 

Lyn food supplements’ packaging allegedly carries FDA registration numbers allocated to a different kind of food, fish sauce, Weerachai said. 

 

Retailers and distributors could face charges of handling products whose contents don’t match the ingredients listed on the labels, of colluding to set up a food factory without permission, and to manufacture and sell fake food products, Weerachai said. 

 

As is the case with Magic Skin products, celebrities have promoted these supplements in “product review” advertisements. They are to be summoned for questioning.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344332

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-01