WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer warning Monday involving a counterfeit diet drug.
The alert is about counterfeit versions of Alli 60 milligram capsules, which are sold over the Internet. The FDA warns they could be dangerous.
Preliminary lab tests reveal the counterfeit Alli does not contain the active ingredient Olistat of the genuine product, but it does have a controlled substance that can be dangerous if it interacts with certain other medications.
How can you tell if the Alli you have is counterfeit? Here are some obvious clues:
- the fake product a large capsule with white powder (genuine Alli capsules contain small, white pellets)
- there is no "lot" number on the packaging
- there are no printed words on the inner foil safety seal (the authentic product says "SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION")
Consumers who believe they have received counterfeit Alli are asked to contact the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations by calling 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site.
