Food Standards Agency issues urgent advice on consumption of 'fat burner' capsules containing DNP

Tuesday 17 June 2003

Ref: 2003/0386

The Food Standards Agency is issuing urgent advice to the public, and people in the bodybuilding community in particular, following the identification of a serious problem with 'fat-burner' capsules containing DNP (2, 4-Dinitrophenol). This industrial chemical is known to have serious short-term and long-term effects on human health when eaten.

Independent toxicological experts advise that these capsules are extremely dangerous to human health.

Taking as few as three or four of these capsules (or 1000mg of DNP) in one dose could result in death.

Smaller amounts (less than one capsule a day) taken over longer periods of time are known to have caused serious human health effects, such as cataracts.

The Food Standards Agency is therefore advising consumers not to take any product containing DNP at any level, as this chemical is not suitable for human consumption.

Initial reports indicate that 'fat-burner' capsules containing DNP seem to be marketed primarily at the bodybuilding community as a way of losing excess fat.

Labelling on products containing DNP may vary, but consumers should avoid any product described as containing DNP or 2, 4-Dinitrophenol.

The Finnish National Food Agency informed the FSA of a problem via the European Commission.

This followed the hospitalisation of a Finnish bodybuilder after taking yellow 'fat-burner' capsules containing DNP, which were purchased via the Internet.

Capsules tested by the Finnish authorities contained as much as 380mg of DNP.

European officials believe the owners of the website from which the capsules were bought may be based in the UK.