FDA warns public vs another 'health' product, this time slimming underwear

Philippine health authorities are going after yet another unregistered health product – this time, so-called slimming underwear.

The FDA issued Advisory 2014-005 dated Jan. 14, warning against the "Onami" slimming underwear products that claim to detoxify the body and burn fats.

"All consumers are hereby warned against buying the said unregistered product from the market or through online," FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go said.

He said the FDA's monitoring showed the product is being advertised to have benefits as it will:

But Hartigan-Go also noted there was no clinical or scientific studies to back the therapeutic claims, adding the product is not registered with the FDA.

He stressed the FDA regulates all devices that have therapeutic or health claims.

As such, he said manufacturers or distributors of such devices need to secure a License to Operate (LTO) as manufacturer or distributor with the FDA.

"Only health products that meet the FDA standards are issued the Certificate of Product Registration (CPR).  Only health products that are FDA-registered may be offered for sale or use and advertised, among other promotional and marketing activities," he said.

In the meantime, Hartigan-Go instructed manufacturers and distributors of the product to remove the products from the market, and mall owners and outlets to remove the products from shelves and racks. — LBG, GMA News