Svelte 30 Nutritional Consultants, a diet pill manufacturer with an office in Kissimmee, Fla., is voluntarily recalling its “Svelte 30 orange & gray capsules” after a January test conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that the pills contained sibutramine, the FDA-approved prescription diet drug sold as Meridia.
In October 2010, Abbott Laboratories voluntarily pulled Meridia from the shelves, under pressure from the FDA, after data showed that the drug increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. (More on TIME.com: The hCG Diet Myth: Why Would a Pregnancy Hormone Make You Skinny?)
Svelte 30 is not approved by the FDA as a drug, so the agency cautions that the pills’ safety and effectiveness are not known. The supplement’s maker said it had voluntarily stopped distribution of the product, which was sold directly to customers from the Kissimmee sales office. “Svelte 30 Nutritional Consultants is taking this voluntary action because we are committed to the health and safety of our customers and to the quality of our select brand,” the company said. “We are working diligently to make available an appropriate Natural Herbal replacement product manufactured in the USA for all of our affected customers.” (More on TIME.com: Placebos Work Even If You Know They’re Fake–But How?)
No illness or injuries have been reported in connection with Svelte 30. The lots affected by the recall are 04-3000 to 04-5999. Consumers with questions can call Pedro Lopez at 407-350-5940, weekdays from 10 to 5 EDT.
