HEALTH officials seized Wednesday dozens of boxes containing a brand of Chinese slimming tea that has been found to be dangerous to consumers in Cagayan de Oro.

Some 80 boxes of Zhen De Shou fat loss tea were confiscated from the De Oro Therapeutic Center Health and Beauty Care stall inside Gaisano Mall on Claro M. Recto-Corrales Extension.

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Leading the seizure was Dr. Simer Belacho, division chief of the Regulatory and Licensing Division of the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao.

Zhen De Shou fat loss tea, Dr. Belacho said, contains amphetamine, sibutramine and sildenafilùbased on laboratory examination conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year.

In its findings, FDA said amphetamine is classified as a prohibited substance, while sildenafil and sibutramine are known active ingredients of prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction and weight loss, respectively.

Products containing any such ingredients which are sold in the market without government approval pose danger to the consuming public, said the FDA.

Belacho said the FDA had already ordered the distributor of Zhen De Shou fat loss tea to recall the product following result of the laboratory examination. Despite this, the distributor continued selling the product nationwide.

"FDA has ordered the outright seizure of this product. That means this product is seriously dangerous to its users," he told the Sun.Star.

Belacho also said the banned slimming tea brand is widely sold in the city.

After the raid at Gaisano's third floor, the DOH team proceeded to a big department store in Lapasan, which reportedly sells the same prohibited product.

However, Belacho said they were prevented by a store supervisor from confiscating the products, and were told to secure approval first from the mall management.

"Sometimes, our action is being prevented by company policy. This should not happen because we just implement what is good for the public," the health official said.

Because of this, Belacho said it is up to the buyers to be prudent on their purchases by inquiring on the active ingredients of the products and its effects on the body. A little research on banned products in the country could also help, he said.