Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen, a product marketed for weight loss and body shaping, contains one or more harmful pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on the label and should not be taken by consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning. The FDA has tested Zi Xiu Bee Pollen products from various distributors in the United States and all of them contain undeclared sibutramine or phenolphthalein which have both been banned for their harmful side effects.
The FDA has received dozens of reports of adverse effects associated with the use of this product including heart palpitations, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, chest pain, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and seizure. Consumers who have experienced negative side effects while taking this product should see a health care professional and report the problem to FDA’s MedWatch program by: completing and submitting the report online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm; or downloading the form, completing it and then faxing it to 1-800-FDA-0178.
Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen is made in China by Guangzhou Zi Xiu Tang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in Guangdong Province, China. It is sold on the Internet, at retail stores, spas and fitness centers. Some licensed health care professionals have promoted the product. The FDA is investigating the distribution of these products and may take enforcement actions including seizures, injunctions and criminal charges.
“Products that contain hidden drugs pose a real danger to consumers,” said Carol Bennett, acting director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This is especially true when the products have names that mislead consumers into believing they are safe and natural.”
Sibutramine, a controlled substance removed from the market in October 2010, causes an increase in blood pressure and pulse rate. This poses a significant risk for some consumers, especially those with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke. Phenolphthalein is a chemical not approved for use in the United States as it has been shown in studies to be a cancer-causing risk.
