Memphis, TN -- The FDA is sending out a warning about dangerous diet pills. Experts say the supplements contain chemicals that can cause seizures, heart attacks and even strokes.
Most are made overseas and sold online or in ethnic herbal stores. Some go by the names “999 Fitness Essence”, “7 Day Herbal Slim” and “Venom Hyperdrive 3.0”.
The pills claim to have natural ingredients and be safe, but experts say they aren't.
"It's buyer beware and the consumer has to understand there could be side effects taking those products. There could be contaminants in those products," says registered dietician Jessica Lew.
The FDA says some of the dangerous pills are filled with a chemical that could cause cancer. Other pills don't have a full list of ingredients on the label or contain way more than the FDA recommended dosage of some ingredients.
"Diet and exercise works and these gimmicks are just money making schemes that could really harm you," says Lew.
Some of the other ingredients found in these pills aren't allowed to be sold in the United States. One chemical, rimonabant, has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe.
FDA officials are asking the manufacturers of these diet pills to voluntarily pull the pills from shelves and stop making them. So far, the FDA says many pill makers aren't complying. So the next step could be filing criminal charges against these companies.
