Abu Dhabi Municipality has banned weight loss products containing phenolphthalein , a chemical once used in laxatives that is believed to be carcinogenic.
Sold under names including Miaozi and Super Slim, the drugs were pulled off shelves after the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi and the Ministry of Health warned of serious risks to consumers.
The products, produced in Hong Kong and sold locally, did not include phenolphthalein in their list of ingredients, the municipality said.
Last month, the municipality banned diet pills containing sibutramine.
