MCC IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND THE SALE OF SIMPLY SLIM
Media Statement
05 February 2010
MEDICINES CONTROL COUNCIL RECOMMENDS SUSPENSION OF THESALE OF THE MEDICINE: SIMPLY SLIM
It has come to the attention of the Medicines Control Council that the weight loss product SIMPLY SLIM may pose significant risks to the South African public. For this reason the Medicines Control Council (MCC) resolved to immediately suspend the sale of SIMPLY SLIM weight loss products in the country until further investigations and review can be completed. This decision was made during its meeting on 27 January 2010.
SIMPLY SLIM is a weight loss product that is not registered as a medicine by the MCC as it is being promoted and sold as a complementary herbal weight loss product. It is being sold at various retail outlets including health shops and pharmacies and is being actively marketed to consumers as a weight loss product.
After careful review of available evidence the Council concluded that the risks associated with the use of weight loss medicine SIMPLY SLIM are greater than the benefits and that the product needs to be registered as a medicine before it can continue to be sold. Council based its decision on the outcome of an investigation it conducted on the product SIMPLY SLIM. Samples of the product were collected from various suppliers and tested at reputable laboratories. The testing of certain batches revealed that the product contained sibutramine, which is the active ingredient of some Schedule 5 weight loss medicines registered in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965. Medicines containing Schedule 5 substances must be registered as medicines and may only be sold on a prescription from a doctor and used in patients under the personal supervision of the doctor. Sibutramine is not listed among ingredients reflected on the product packaging of SIMPLY SLIM and is associated with significant adverse effects including heart problems.
In addition, Council has received a number of product complaints from members of the public. These complaints ranged from patients experiencing nausea, headaches, psychological effects and cardiovascular events.
Based on these findings, the MCC resolved to suspend the sale of SIMPLY SLIM until more complete supportive data on the safety, quality and efficacy of the medicine has been submitted by the manufacturer and evaluated by the Council. Only if the MCC is completely satisfied that the medicine is safe, effective, of good quality and therefore in the public interest will it allow the product to be registered and sold in South Africa.
Mrs Mandisa Hela, Registrar of Medicines, reminded the public that “the Medicines Control Council is the statutory body ultimately responsible for ensuring that all medicines and medicinal products available on the South African market are safe, effective and of good quality and that their availability should be in the interest of the public.”
For more information please contact Fidel Hadebe on
Issued by the Department of Health.
Ends
70 Responses to MCC IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND THE SALE OF SIMPLY SLIM
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Hahaha, ek lees bietjie deur die pro-Simply Slim replies. Nogal snaaks. Die mense wat jou dreig was heel waarskynlik agente van Simply Slim in wie se beursies jy ingeklim het. Dit of hulle is net stupid. LOL love hierdie forums. Thanks Johan, jy maak die wêreld ‘n beter plek.
Johan jy mag nie vanaand se Carte Blanche Consumer program misloop nie!
Carte Blanche gaan hulle roer!
helo johan I just want to say that I have read through alot of coments about simply slim!!
I am only 14 and don’t worry im not using simply slim but what i am doing is, I am gr8 now and I have to do a expo and my om told me that it would be a good idea to do it on simply slim and she was damn right and these comments have helped alot!!! thanx
Hi everyone, I heard last night on Carte Blanche, that there will be a feature on Carte Blanche Medical, Thursday this week, all about Simply Slim. Johan, I admire you for getting the word out about these diet pills!
I know so many people experiencing weight issues, either wanting weight loss (fat), weight gain (muscle), or just to maintain their good body weight and health. The best way I have found is through nutrition, a well-balanced meal and healthy snack programme.
I don’t know about these diet pills but it seems pretty drastic to me. I have friends who have conquered even serious weight issues with a product called Herbalife. Recognised in 73 countries, the product is identified as FOOD and backed by Nobel prizewinning doctors. I don’t know of anyone who has not seen good results with Herbalife.
I’m not advertising here, just want to pass on some good advice. Diet pills are dangerous. Improvements in health are the result of adjusting to less intake of fatty, starchy processed foods and more fruit, vegetables and cutting back while following a good exercise programme.
Hi I just found out today that simply slim has been recalled. I have been taking it for about two weeks. I am very scared at the moment whether there is something wrong with me now. I have not experiened any side effects. Do you know whether people are going to get refunds if not how do you go about sueing this guy for complete false advertising? I am only 18 so I am worried this pill is now going to affect me later on in life?
Hi, Tiana you only 18 and i m sure you can change your lifestyle to loose those extra kilos. You still young and can do a lot more than us older people. I suggest you drink a lot of water to flush out this poison from your body. Wish you all the best
Hi Johan,They have just announced on East Coast Radio that if you purchased your box in February, you wil get a refund, how true is this, do you perhaps know if we will get a refund??
I have requested this info from Simply Slim Lance but he have not given me any info
Ek moet se dit is regtig hartseer dat Johan sy tyd in mense ingesit het om hul te waarsku dat die produk so erg nadelig is, en dat sommige mense hom totaal aangeval het, wat hy die verdien nie. Dit maak my skaam dat ons as mensdom mekaar nie kan help en bystaan nie. Ek het ‘n vriendin wat net die pille gekoop het vir haar troue en sy het niks gewig verloor nie, maar wel haar gesondheid. Sy het die pille gekoop net soos almal gedink dit gaan net haar help om bietjie gewig te verloor om in haar rokkie te pas. Nou het sy al 2 weke urienweg onsteking onder andere, en was al op 3 verskillende antbiotikas. Die probleme het ingeskop nadat sy klaar gemaak het met die pille. Die mense wat so gestry het en tekere gegaan het sies man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nou is jul ewe skielik bly dat jul, jul geld terug kry, maar toe Johan jul gewaarsku het, het jul regtig baie lelik opgetree. Ek hoop dat jul hom onverskoning sal vra. Hy verdien dit dankie.
Dankie vir jou goeie woorde Candy. Dit mense wat my aanval moenie warrie nie ek is nog lief vir hulle.
ek sal graag die pille wil oor koop by jou vriendin ek wil werklik vir jou se ek het nog nooit so goed gevoel nie kontak my by 012 8009270
ive been on ro-accutane and simply slim.side effects of roaccutane were intense and horrible.side effects of simply slim were one hundred times worse!
Yey!!! Finally the truth has been published for all to see!!! I laugh in their faces!!! I recieved an agressive email from the lady I bought SS from, saying that there is nothing wrong with SS and it is all just an attempt to discredit SS as it is the only thing that works… ha ha ha! What a joke!
Hi all, my wife,sister and I have been using the product for about 6 weeks.No doubt you do lose weight…BUT….headaches,incredible thirst,moodiness,heart palpatations,sweats,blurry vision,memory loss, lack of concentration….the list goes on. Interesting that SS have not issued a public statement as yet….GUILT?The local mall where SS usually sells from was nowhere to be seen today, yet i bought 3 boxes on Thirsday.
Johan, I have just spoke to an SS agent in Cape Town. She assures me that the SABS randomly test packaing as it arrives and that the product is SABS approved.She says that the products found with the schedule 5 conent were from products that looked like SS’s but were vivibly diiferent.SS is redesigning their packaging with security and agents will have to carry validation cards so as to weed out illicit marketers of SS products or copies of it…..She says SS should be back in operation in about 2 weeks time. She says the dizziness is due to the DETOX phase and the increase(regulation) of the users metabolism.She says users must stop for a day every 7 days….not skip meals, drink 3L of water and not drink coffee or alcohol whilst using the product.I must confess my wife, my sister and myself have lost weight, but the uncertainty regarding the product does make one somewhat nervous……I just wish there was ABSOLUTE clarity……
So simply slim agents including the company and developer Maruis Venter have been lying to the public all this this time and now it was proven simply slim contains sibutramine. That is what caused the dizziness my dear and nothing to do with how you take simply slim. SABS don\’t approve medicines in South Africa but the MCC which banned it. Are people this gullible in South Africa?
hi its riekie do you still have boxes that you want to get rid off i will buy it from you 012 ???????
I am sorry to hear Simply Slim did not work for you and about all the side effects you had but hey not everything works for everybody. Have you been very closely involved with the Simply Slim company?
simply slim don\’t work for a lot of people as it contains a illegal drug and that is the reason it didn\’t work for me. No i am just a user that got lied to so i took a stand
I have been using simply slim for 6 weeks now and yes I had side effects like sweating and headaches which I was warned about by my agent which she told me is part of the detox period, with anything you take that detoxifies your body you will experience headaches etc but after the detox period was over all the symptoms disappeared. I FEEL GREAT NOW…. BETTER THAN IVE FELT IN A LONG TIME… I HAVE ENERGY ALL THE TIME… I USED TO SUFFER FROM INSOMIA BEFORE I STARTED TAKING IT NOW I SLEEP LIKE A BABY SINCE IVE BEEN ON IT… I FEEL BETTER ABOUT MY SELF… IM HAPPIER… I LOVE SIMPLY SLIM…
Actually i don\’t care if you love simply slim it is illegal as it is hurting people
Ive been taking tabs for two months now. Was very happy as side effects were gone and lost seven kg. After one month i started having pins and needles. Left hand and foot became lame with terrible pain. Orthopaedic sur diagnosed me with carpel tunnel . Got injection in hand. Still had no idea that it had anything to do with tabs. Still took tabs. On friday heard report and decided to wait to hear outcome. Still was very positive cause the weight loss was great. Last night i had most shocking experience of my life. Started having bladder prob. Eventually two hours later urinating blood. Was taken to hospital. Have bad bladder infection but sample sent away for testing and i am patiently waiting on results. I could not go to work today. I have never ever in my life had this experience. I am so scared and just wanted to warn people who like me thought we found the perfect product. I was feeling so great about myself. But at what price. Losing my mobility in my hands and feet or will it cost me my kidney. To those still taking it, please take care and dont be naive. I did not want to bad mouth the product as it was great to lose weight but right now i am scared as i do not know what is happening to me.
aFrouz. Hi did you get your results back of your bladder infection?
This is not accidental or due to incompetence. Marius Venter has a history of fraudulent diamond mines, cell phone schemes, fake company listings, banned imports from China . . . the list goes on. And every time he claims people have vendetta’s. Go do your homework on the man and you’ll understand the product.
Can anyone expand on the past scams that marius venter was involved in?
Simon. Ek sal graag meer wil weet van Mr Venter se bedrywighede, moeg vir skelms
Ag shame johan, waarmee gaan jy en jou kudde “agtervolgers” julself nou mee besig hou sedert Simply Slim nie meer op die beskikbaar is nie???? Watter maatskappy gaan julle nou irriteer???Toemmaar, SS gaan hulself bywys, dan gaan die hare waai!!! so oppas johan & antoinette!!!!
Dit is nie die eerste keer dat Antoinette van die beeld scams expose nie en dit sal ook die laaste wees nie. Vir my as ek n produk koop en die firma doen die selfde soos simply slim en hulle stel nie belang in die publiek nie dan sal ek weer die selfde doen. Geen firma is perfek nie maar dit hang af van hoe hulle hulle cusomers behandel is wat is belangrik. Om aanhoudend to lieg soos simply slim doen ……………. so ek neem aan hierdie is n drygement – ek het jou IP maar ek is n bietjie besig om jou address te track
ha ha ha johan,dis nie n dreigement nie, ek waarsku julle maar net! en wat as jy my IP opspoor?? spandeer eerder jou tyd op beter dinge as om jou te verlekker in ander se verleentheid!!! Ek se altyd; moenie brue agter jou afbrand nie!
so hoekom vloek jy my nie nou nie (of het jou hart aan die Here gegee) Ek verlekker my nie in ander se verleentheid nie. En ek weet van geen brue wat ek agter my met jou of enige iemand by Simply Slim gebou het. Feit bly staan jy skuil agter n email – kom uit in die ope
Feit bly staan Simply Slim was n helse GELDMAAK scheme………
SKELM GELDMAAK SCHEME
Jy hou Johan en al die teenstaanders besig, want jul wil nie ophou om klomp nonsens te skryf nie. Nou wat gaan jy nou doen aangesien jou pilletjies op is? Dit is seker die Indian Lotus ontrekkings simptome wat inskop. Geen wonder jul wat so mal is oor die produk gaan so aan nie. Jul het erg newe effekte, maar die ander bestandele laat jul vergeet van al die pyn en laat jou lekker voel. Die Indian Lotus is ‘n DRUG. Gaan doen jou huiswerk en dit is net een genoem. Jy kan maar net sowel gaan mushrooms kry of dagga, want hul val onder dieselfde groep DRUGS! Geen simpatie meer vir mense soos jy nie.
So, I get that there are those who have found a cause to rally around in Simply Slim but what no one seems prepared to acknowledge is that no product seized from the Simply Slim head office actually contained sibutramine.Weight loss is a multi-billion dollar industry. With the introduction of Simply Slim someone’s market share must be suffering. Is it that hard to believe that someone saw a gap and brought in a counterfeit version that contained the schedule 5 ingredient?I would no sooner take on the pharmaceutical industry than I would the tobacco industry. Anyone remember how they recently tried to prove that electronic cigarettes caused cancer and then tried to get their shipments confiscated because they weren’t regulated by the FDA – seriously!?It’s easier to believe what you read in the papers than to consider the broader commercial and political implications of someone not getting their annual bonus.(And Johan, could this just be a traffic generating tool for marketing your Michael Jackson website?)
Tasha what point are trying to make – my girl it is done they were found out that is why the MCC closed them down. So get over it. Maybey now all this crap that come from china will be routed out. Yes Tasha this is all about getting traffic to that MJ website. Are you happy now – now you exposed my secret. Did you go and look at it nice hey.
Hey, it’s not over ’till the fat lady loses 20kg… And yes, couldn’t resist checking out the site. Not bad…
If you referring to yourself there are other ways to loose it. If you referring to this site http://www.michaeljacksonfans.co.za i sold it the day when i did that post 7 July 2009 so any traffic it gets will benefit the new owner. I build these video sites and the sell them. I am thinking about doing one on Kurt Darren and a few other SA singers and sell them to there fans. I am not a Kurt Darren Fan
Another shameless plug… *sies*… Listen – Simply Slim is one thing but I draw the line at promoting “kurtdarren”.
I am doing for the money – he always have all these girls hanging around him – they might buy it
not sure how to reply to this one – some help please
Hi everybody,Wow, was shocked to hear about the ban of Simply Slim. It worked well for me, I was happy when I started fitting into all my cloths again BUT now I’m scared to death about my ignorance. I’ve been sweating like a pig, been thirsty desite the fact that I drink 3lt of water a day. I thought I was loosing my mind, I never get headaches, hot flushes etc. now I’m suffering badly. My husband always says don’t buy these diet pills, you don’t need them, start eating properly! Yeah I hear you from now on! Johan, good job and thank you. I need to get back to Curves and eating properly.
I will if i get time offer a FREE program with lekker ebook called weight loss oracle from the site so come back later tomorrow. That will help you get back those Curves and make the hubby habby (looking at you and saving money)
Hi Johan. Thanks for the update on SS. It boggels my mind that there are still people out there, the intellectules and oops!!!! if I miss spelled it, that are still in denial. Good for you and Antoinett Pienaar that made this huge effort to educate and inform the SA public… I wonder what will happen if this story breaks on Third Degree and Carte Blanche
I rather stay …… change the subject. Pity 3rd degree and Carte Blanche didn\’t help us early. I trust it will be in all the media this weekend to inform the public
Now you have ruined our friendship – pleasa ghet a spellin checker
For one thing they may do their research instead of passing off half-truths and media spin as fact.
Tasha – the press release on the top here comes directly from the health department and not from any source
Firstly I would like to applaud your persistent. It was obvious that Simply Slim was not healthy, and if you spent some time researching even the ingredients disclosed by the company you would refrain from ingesting the product. Seriously, just do a search on “Google Scholar”. However, I am disgusted and appalled at the fact that the intellectually impaired are fighting “the good fight”. Please, in the future use a spellchecker, or even better, get a PA. Keep fighting “the good fight”, just use your brain in the process.
BTW, try to spot the mistakes I made on porpouses, correct them. I will give you a mark allocations out of teen.
What mistake???????????
LOL joke is on you – this was not about my spelling but exposing a company that is harming people. Seriously – i did google the ingredients. This intellectually impaired can\’t read as it never said anything on the box about Sibutramine unless it was spelled wrong. Not sure if you calling me \”intellectually impaired\” is your kinda humor so i will let you enjoy yourself. As as for you saying i must use my brain – i did that is why we got somewhere. Oh this \”brainless intellectually impaired\” coded this website and many other so next time kinda use the words to rather make the world a better place …… i might start a website to get my point across (oh shit no brains i forgot)
Just wanted to add this. So i take it you are a intellectual with lost(correction LOTS) of brains. We use those “intellectual brains” of yours next and get of your ass do somthing(correction SOMETHING) worth while instead of always critisizing(correction criticizing) others.
hi johan
the first part of j-z’s comment is actually in agreement with you, so there’s no need to hack into the poor guy. the bits about spelling was a tad ridiculous though, considering that he used “persistent” iso “persistence”. the pot doesn’t get to call the kettle black
thanks for the informative site.
i hav used sibrutamine before”purchased via internet” and had the worst side effects. thank goodness for this review as ive been wanting to try simply slim and was not worried about side effects as i thought it was all natural
hi mary
um, natural doesn’t mean safe. belladonna and datura are “natural”. so is cocaine (extracted from coca leaves), dagga, tabacco, etc. and let’s not forget our good old friend sugar
in fact, i’d guess that most of the otc and prescription meds originate in the natural world, from aspirine (from willow bark) to morphine (from poppies via heroin).
Johan what can I say, it is people like you that makes the world a better place. And the world go round and round without spinning…:) I solute you and may the people that supported your website be healthy, start a new life by going to a specialist to get a good eating program, and take a walk, swim, jog or gym for life. Good luck ye all.
Can anyone tell me how long it took for your symptoms and the heart palpitations to go away after you stopped SS?
It don\’t take to long. If it is bad i suggest you go on a 3 day water fast as that will flush your system from the stuff. If it is really bad go and see a doc as you know what is causing it.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)well done johan! thank you!!!!!!interesting point though- the decision was made jan 27?
Yes that date is interesting – also a big 5 for Antoinette from the Beeld for her reporting
A high-five for a witch-hunt? What do I get?
If you referring to the website -only a R1000
No Johan, that is not what I am saying! And if you had bothered to post my comments – everyone could see that. I was simply stressing how different things work differently for different people! If it should be a perscription medicine – then so be it, and good that it has been found out. I suspect you will find something else to direct your anger on then! Why don’t you start a site about how many people commit suicide anually due to side effects of medicines, such as Accutane, which are perscribed by their doctors, and well known internationally to have side effects of depression, deformation, hair loss, skin loss, etc. I suspect you were a very unhappy person before you ever even heard of Simply slim. Good luck to you!
Liezel at the end of the day many people got hurt as if any human is given 4 times the legal limit of sibutramine they won\’t act normal. Why do people like you target those that care. Many people have been warned now and that is good. If Accutane is prescribed by doctors and the patients abuse it then what are we to do. Simple Slim lied about the content of there product something you seem to overlook. Actually i am a very happy person Liezel but don\’t shutup when i have been done in and your comments judging me is only but one i have had to take. But at the end of the day if this helped to warn other. I suppose if it was your daughter or husband that was rushed to hospital then you would have a different comment here. My wife suffered the day we rushed to the doctor as we though i was getting a heart attack and then simply slim still ignored my call for help. Liezel they have been proven to be bad news and they were selling not even a prescription medicine without a license as but the content found was nearly 4 times more. 2 wrongs don\’t make a right and i fail to understand why people think people that stand-up for in what they believe is unhappy. I am all smiling
whoopsy….. I just bought a box 30min ago….
Well send them to read this press release and get your money back easy peasy
I have been on Simply Slim and had fantastic results. I had a slight incident of insomnia for the first day or two, like taking thinns or any other slimming tablet! Plus – the lady I purchased it from warned me of these side effects people had been reporting. In all honesty – it worked a charm for me, and I recommended it to loads of people who have also had great results on it. Of course there are those who the product did not agree with. . Fair enough – sales have been suspended due to it having a schedule 5 content, and therefore requiring a perscription – just like other slimming tablets. It does not mean that it is bad for you, or poisenous or harmful!
I am going to stop you here as since simply have been banned i will not promote a product that the owners put in whatever they wanted and sold it to the public. and please don’t come back her with a string of stories. all along myself and many were right about simply slim
So you are saying let us give simply slim a tap on the back for cheating and lyin gto the public. It have been tested with an illigal subsctance that is it and many people came here and accused me of talking crap. Well for me i lost a lot of time and suffered because of there bullshit and lies. I am going to edit you post as it is a long story how good it was for you. the only goodness in simply slim was deception – you are aware that it was tested 3-4 time for even the legal limit
WOW!!!! I knew it, congratulations Johan!!! You proved a point, I know there are a number of people that are in total denial about the product (agents) but you have possibly saved a huge number of other people by sticking to your gut feel. Liz put this in your pipe and smoke it!!!