Agency warns against Fangocur mineral drink
Friday 16 January 2009
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is today warning consumers not to drink Fangocur mineral supplement drink following test results that show dangerous levels of arsenic.
The Austrian product is only sold to individuals over the Internet and claims to be a 'comprehensive inflammatory bowel disease treatment'. Food supplements are, by law, not allowed to make claims about preventing, treating or curing illnesses – only medicines that have approved evidence that they do what they say they do and are rigorously tested can do this.
The FSA has been told of two reported illnesses in the Cheshire area thought to be linked to this drink, with symptoms including dizziness, heart palpitations and stomach cramps.
You should not drink this product. If you have consumed this product and feel ill as a result, contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or speak to your doctor.
The FSA has notified other countries in the European Union about the test results.
The science behind the story
Arsenic
Arsenic occurs naturally in a wide range of foods at very low levels. Its toxicity depends on the chemical form in which it is present. There are two chemical forms of arsenic, the more dangerous form which is present in this drink is associated with an increased risk of lung, skin and bladder cancer. The Agency’s expert independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has advised that exposure to this form of arsenic should be as low as possible.
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