Public warned not to take certain Hydroxycut supplements

Friday 12 June 2009

The Food Standards Agency is warning people not to take certain Hydroxycut food supplements following reports in North America and Finland linking the products to several serious cases of liver damage, including one death. Retailers are advised to withdraw certain Hydroxycut supplements from sale.

Hydroxycut products are marketed as the biggest selling 'weight-loss supplement' in North America, and both UK and USA formulae are available on the UK market with similar packaging and a number of common ingredients. The specific ingredient or dosage which might be causing health problems has not yet been identified. However, as a precautionary measure, the FSA is warning people not to take them. There are no reported illnesses in the UK related to these products.

Hydroxycut food supplements are marketed for weight loss under the brands Iovate and MuscleTech and are manufactured by Iovate Health Sciences, Oakville, Ontario. They are available mainly through the internet, including online supplier tropicanafitness.com and also in health food shops. Holland & Barrett has actively highlighted this issue with the FSA and will notify its UK stores to withdraw any Hydoxycut products they sell.

Hydroxycut products have been withdrawn from sale in the USA, Finland and Canada. Ireland has also advised retailers to withdraw the product and consumers to discontinue use of the products.

The list of affected products are:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

Further information is available from the FDA website below.