CARMARTHENSHIRE public protection officers have joined forces with the Food Standards Agency to warn people against a dangerous fat burning substance.
The FSA is taking action over DNP, or 2,4 Dinitrophenol, which is being used by some people within the body building community and by those trying to lose weight.
Local authorities have been assisting the Agency to stamp out the illegal sale of DNP to consumers. Last week a bulletin was emailed to nationwide gym chains and a science blog by the Agency’s Head of Chemical Risk Assessment on the effects of DNP and what it does to the body was posted ( http://ow.ly/pBRlv)
As a further strand to this work the Agency is developing a social media campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of DNP for young people, bodybuilders and slimming communities.
The social media campaign will consist of a web story reiterating advice and asking people to join in with the campaign 21 October www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/oct/dnp and five days of tweets to raise awareness of the dangers of DNP. Using the hashtag #DNPKills during 21-25 October.
DNP is an industrial chemical which can be extremely dangerous to human health. It is not fit for human consumption and cannot legally be sold as food.
Capsules, tablets and powders containing DNP appear to be marketed at the bodybuilding community, and those wishing to lose weight, as a quick way of burning fat.
Side effects include fever, dehydration, restlessness, sweating, flushed skin, rapid respiration, rapid or irregular heartbeat, coma and death.
Anyone who believes they have taken DNP should seek medical advice immediately.
Please contact Carmarthenshire County Council on 01267 234567 if you would like further information or are aware of any sales of products containing DNP.
The council’s executive board member for public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “We are aware of this substance and officers have already purchased and tested products that might contain it. DNP is a concern.
“Nationally there have been issues of people having heart attacks, although thankfully this has not happened in Carmarthenshire, and we are taking the problem very seriously.
“People taking part in body building or weight loss should steer clear of DNP and anyone wanting further information should contact us.”
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