SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued seven letters to companies warning them that they are selling illegal "homeopathic" HCG weight-loss drugs that have not been approved by FDA, and that make unsupported claims.  

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FDA is advising consumers to steer clear of these illegal HCG weight-loss products that direct users to follow a severely restrictive—and potentially dangerous—diet.

These products that purport to contain the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are sold in the form of oral drops, pellets and sprays and can be found online and in some retail stores.

• For the list of manufacturers, distributors and products, visit www.fda.gov/hcgdiet

• For more information about FDA's concerns about HCG, visit http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm281333.htm

• To watch the video, HCG: Dangerous to Dieters, in which FDA's Elizabeth Miller explains the actions taken by the federal agencies, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNryeh4rmWs

• For an audio podcast of the interview with Miller on HCG diet products, visit http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/UCM282183.mp3

• For high-resolution photos of illegal HCG diet products, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdaphotos/sets/72157628192125431/

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Media Contact: Shelly Burgess, 301-796-4651, Shelly.Burgess@fda.hhs.gov

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration