More than 30 people in the UK have died after ingesting a highly toxic chemical compound used in slimming pills, most of which are ordered online, and which has now been added to the country’s list of regulated poisons. It follows a year-long campaign by the families of those who have died.
DNP, or 2,4-Dinitrophenol, is classified as an explosive and banned for human consumption but has been marketed on the internet as a weight-loss aid, reports News24.
“It is a toxic industrial chemical and not at all fit for human consumption,” said Dr Simon Hill from the National Poisons Information Service. “It is not a medication; it’s not a recreational drug, it’s not a nutritional supplement, it’s a toxic chemical and extremely dangerous at all doses. There is no safe human dose, and therefore it can, and does, often lead to death.”
The toxin will be regulated under the Poisons Act 1972 from 1 October 2023, meaning anyone wanting to buy it will require a license from a registered pharmacist. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is also calling for an outright ban on DNP.
“It’s concerning that people are going to these lengths to make money from vulnerable people, many of them teenagers. And also, that people are so confused and concerned about their body image,” said Thorrun Govind of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
“My role is to help people … make sure they're not using substances they can find online because we don’t really know what’s in them. With DNP, we know that it’s dangerous; it’s killing people.”
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