Abu Dhabi Issues Warning on 18 Counterfeit Beauty and Weight Loss Products
Health authorities highlight the risks associated with unregulated dietary supplements and cosmetics in a growing counterfeit market.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) has identified 18 counterfeit pharmaceutical products in the early months of 2025, elevating the total number of such products on its warning list to 3,142.
This heightened alert underscores the ongoing concerns over counterfeit medicines, dietary supplements, and cosmetic items that are frequently marketed as natural herbal remedies and sold illegally, often through online platforms.
The latest update from the DoH specifically identifies risks linked to counterfeit drugs and dietary, cosmetic, and weight loss products, which include bodybuilding supplements, sexual enhancers, and beauty treatments.
Health authorities assert that these products can lead to serious health complications, prompting multiple warnings from both local and international organizations.
The breakdown of the counterfeit products currently under scrutiny reveals a concerning variety: 269 are categorized as bodybuilding and muscle-enhancing supplements, 582 as weight loss and slimming products, 1,503 as sexual enhancement products, and 447 as various other counterfeit items.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health has provided a detailed list that includes names, images, sources, and the reasons for the prohibition of these products.
Products such as Force, Black Horse, Royal Honey, and Stiff Rock Gold are among those flagged, with health risks including heart attacks, strokes, liver damage, skin rashes, elevated blood pressure, and possible loss of hearing or vision.
These counterfeit items are often produced and stored in hazardous conditions that breach established safety practices, which increases the risk of contamination by harmful agents, including bacteria, fungi, and heavy metals.
Additionally, some products have been identified as containing undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients that could further jeopardize consumer safety.
The DoH has issued a warning against the indiscriminate use of medications and dietary supplements, emphasizing that many consumers harbor a misconception that these products are inherently safe due to their natural composition.
This lack of awareness presents the danger of adverse health effects, especially when combined with other medications.
In terms of weight management, the department reiterated that the most effective and scientifically supported strategies for weight loss remain healthy eating and regular physical activity, rather than reliance on dietary supplements whose risks remain inadequately understood.
On the topic of counterfeit cosmetics, the department highlighted that such products carry potential for significant health risks.
Fraudulent practices surrounding cosmetic items frequently involve deceptive marketing tactics that misrepresent ingredients and mislead consumers.
To address these issues, the department aims to enhance public awareness about identifying unsafe products and the associated risks of utilizing unregulated supplements and cosmetics.
This heightened alert underscores the ongoing concerns over counterfeit medicines, dietary supplements, and cosmetic items that are frequently marketed as natural herbal remedies and sold illegally, often through online platforms.
The latest update from the DoH specifically identifies risks linked to counterfeit drugs and dietary, cosmetic, and weight loss products, which include bodybuilding supplements, sexual enhancers, and beauty treatments.
Health authorities assert that these products can lead to serious health complications, prompting multiple warnings from both local and international organizations.
The breakdown of the counterfeit products currently under scrutiny reveals a concerning variety: 269 are categorized as bodybuilding and muscle-enhancing supplements, 582 as weight loss and slimming products, 1,503 as sexual enhancement products, and 447 as various other counterfeit items.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health has provided a detailed list that includes names, images, sources, and the reasons for the prohibition of these products.
Products such as Force, Black Horse, Royal Honey, and Stiff Rock Gold are among those flagged, with health risks including heart attacks, strokes, liver damage, skin rashes, elevated blood pressure, and possible loss of hearing or vision.
These counterfeit items are often produced and stored in hazardous conditions that breach established safety practices, which increases the risk of contamination by harmful agents, including bacteria, fungi, and heavy metals.
Additionally, some products have been identified as containing undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients that could further jeopardize consumer safety.
The DoH has issued a warning against the indiscriminate use of medications and dietary supplements, emphasizing that many consumers harbor a misconception that these products are inherently safe due to their natural composition.
This lack of awareness presents the danger of adverse health effects, especially when combined with other medications.
In terms of weight management, the department reiterated that the most effective and scientifically supported strategies for weight loss remain healthy eating and regular physical activity, rather than reliance on dietary supplements whose risks remain inadequately understood.
On the topic of counterfeit cosmetics, the department highlighted that such products carry potential for significant health risks.
Fraudulent practices surrounding cosmetic items frequently involve deceptive marketing tactics that misrepresent ingredients and mislead consumers.
To address these issues, the department aims to enhance public awareness about identifying unsafe products and the associated risks of utilizing unregulated supplements and cosmetics.
Translation:
Translated by AI
