The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned it two years ago, but it is still available to consumers in Boston, MA. It can cause heart attacks, strokes and cancer. What is the dangerous product? It is Pai You Gou, and it is supposedly a quick and easy way to lose weight.
The FDA banned it because its two main ingredients are sibutramine and phenolphthalein, which U.S. regulators prohibit. Pai You Gou is popular among Brazilian women, many who said they purchased the product since the 2009 ban in Boston, according to the Boston Globe. The Brazilian women said they did not know about the ban, and that they use the product to try to shed a few extra pounds.
Consumers have purchased the product at local stores in Boston and over the Internet. Users of Pai You Gou report minor symptoms of dry mouth, anxiety and insomnia. However, some users report more serious problems including heart palpitations, depression, fainting, nausea and vomiting.
Stores sell the product alongside approved items such as ginseng, shark’s fin and other healing herbs. Consumers have no idea that the FDA banned Pai You Gou for its harmful qualities. Unlike prescription medications, which undergo strict FDA testing, dietary supplements can fly under the radar. Pai You Gou contains pharmaceutical ingredients, which allows the FDA to regulate and seize it from store shelves.
Colson Hicks Eidson – Florida lawyers
