Pharmacist nabbed for illegal diet food

By Yoon Min-sik

Published : March 4, 2012 - 11:58

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Busan District Prosecutors’ Office said Sunday it arrested and charged a pharmacist on suspicion of making diet food with obesity medicines and selling it online.

Korea does not allow obesity medicines to be used in food manufacturing.

The 66-year-old suspect, only identified by his surname Park, allegedly mixed powdered persimmon leaves with sibutramine (reductil). He sold 2,362 boxes of the illegal product via cosmetic shops and online stores, according to prosecutors.

Sibutramine is known to have appetite-repressing effects and is sold under a variety of brands. However, safety concerns were raised in the U.S. over the relatively high number cardiovascular problems observed in people taking sibutramine.

By Yoon Min-sik

(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)

<관련 한글 기사>

약사, 불법 다이어트식품 인터넷 판매

부산지검 형사4부(이광민 부장검사)는 비만치료제를 섞어 다이어트 식품을 제조•판매한 혐의(식품위생법 위반)로 약사 박모(66)씨를 구속기소했다고 4일 밝혔다.

박씨는 2007년 3월부터 지난 1월까지 식품에 사용할 수 없는 비만치료제 '시부 트라민'을 감잎분말 등과 섞어 다이어트 식품인 '미인단', '감비단' 2천362박스를 만든 뒤 인터넷 쇼핑몰과 화장품 판매점 등을 통해 판 혐의를 받고 있다.

검찰은 또 박씨로부터 이들 제품 946상자를 받아 인터넷을 통해 판 혐의로 입건 된 이모(30)씨는 불법제품임을 알았다는 증거가 없다고 보고 무혐의 처분했다. (연합뉴스)

Yoon Min-sik
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
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Pharmacist nabbed for illegal diet food

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