Posted 18 September 2019

From NutraIngredients

Fat-burner supplement recalled due to high caffeine content

By Will Chu

12-Sep-2019 – Last updated on 11-Sep-2019 at 16:57 GMT

Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) is recalling a popular fat-burning supplement after checks found the product’s caffeine content to be in excess of that labelled.

Bottles of the product, Phedra Cut Lipo XT Fat Burner (60 tablets) are to be taken off the shelves of the distributor, Charleroi -based sports equipment shop Intersport Gosselies.

“The company has decided in consultation with the FASFC to remove the following product from the sale and recall it from the consumer,”​ FASFC recall notice states.

“The company asks its customers not to consume the product and to return it to the point of sale where it will be reimbursed.”​

The affected supplement, made by the UK’s Ultimate Sports Nutrition (USN), contains the expiry date (02/2021) and the period in which the product was sold to customers (24/08/19 to 4/09/19).

In its notification, FASFC adds that consumers can contact the Agency on the number +32 (0)800 13550.

Authority issues ​

The recall is not the first time the product has landed in hot water with authorities. In August, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that claims made about the green tea extract contained in the supplement were “misleading and unsubstantiated”.​

Specifically, the issue was whether USN could use claims currently ‘on hold’ by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), who were still unable to confirm the assessment criteria for such claims.

USN stated that EFSA were considering two possible ways to assess such claims, either through scientific evidence or through the historical use of the botanical’s traditional use.

They added that until a decision was made over the assessment of such claims, they could continue to be used.

USN believed that meant that traditional history of use data might be accepted rather than or in addition to randomised controlled trials.

Despite the firm’s objections, ASA upheld the ruling adding, “The evidence was not adequate to substantiate the advertising claims, and the advertising claims did not in any case relate to the same plant parts and/or did not have the same conditions of use as the referenced ‘on hold’ claims.”​ ​

“We concluded the claims “Green Tea – Containing Phytofare, a green tea catechin complex, to support your … fat oxidation” and “Thermogenic – Green Tea itself inhibits an enzyme involved in the thermogenesis of body fat,” breached the Code.”​

Update: 25 September 2019

Fat burner supplement lawful for sale on Belgian market, claims USN

USN’s fat burner supplement is safe and lawful for sale in Belgium, according to the UK-based company, in response to a recall notification by the country’s authorities over the product’s caffeine content… Read

• Can You Get Too Much Protein? 15 September, 2021
• SLAPPing back: Court checks corporate bullying 12 February, 2021
• Sports nutrition position paper backs dietary protein over supplements 28 August, 2020
• South African Whey and Casein protein powders lack important amino acids 7 November, 2019
• USN PhedraCut Lipo XT recalled due to high caffeine content 18 September, 2019
• UK ASA rules claims of USN Phedracut breach advertising code 6 August, 2019
• Sports nutrition: spoiled by ‘wrong and immoral’ marketing 10 May, 2018
• Protein World’s Carb Blocker versus USN Carb Block 22 March, 2018
• 5 supplements that claim to speed up weight loss – and what the science says 31 January, 2018
• Why do teenagers use supplements, and where do they get their advice? 27 November, 2017
• 3 Bodybuilding Supplements That Are An Absolute Waste Of Money 16 October, 2017
• Denmark warns over online sports supplements 2 July, 2017
• Sports nutrition growth spoiled by ‘wrong and immoral’ marketing 28 June, 2017
• Sports supplements sold to children 12 May, 2017
• Garcinia Linked to Liver Damage 1 May, 2017
• Teens Receiving Inaccurate Information on Supplements 19 April, 2017
• Court strikes blow against quackery 17 March, 2017
• Some good reasons to be cautious about using dietary supplements 13 February, 2017
• Protein hype: shoppers flushing money down the toilet, say experts 28 December, 2016
• Muscle-building shakes don’t always have as much protein as they claim to 11 July, 2016
• Targeting school children in marketing campaigns for sports supplements: Is it ethical? 31 May, 2016
• USN linked to company promoting sport supplements in children 21 April, 2016
• Diet supplements threat to liver 25 January, 2016
• Power Report: Watchdog in chains as advertiser fights back 18 November, 2015
• USN’s defamation action: Commentary on RSG 21 October, 2015
• Supplement use might be a sign of disordered eating in men 8 October, 2015
• Die Burger: Aktivis gedagvaar oor aanvullers 7 October, 2015
• USN, Herbex, Antagolin, Solal and Vigro (Nativa) go to court to block ASA 6 October, 2015
• USN: Previous ASA rulings 5 October, 2015
• USN defamation charge against CamCheck 17 September, 2015
• Do sports drinks and energy bars make you a better athlete? 15 September, 2015
• CLA supplement linked to hepatitis case 14 September, 2015
• USN/Evox Protein supplements: what you need to know 26 August, 2015
• Melamine contamination in South African nutritional supplements 21 July, 2015
• USN Carb Binder – ASA breach ruling 7 May, 2015
• Nutritech Diet Meal vs USN – ASA Ruling 5 May, 2015
• Nutritech Premium Pure Whey Lite vs USN – ASA Ruling 4 May, 2015
• Muscle-Building Supplements Linked to Testicular Cancer 22 April, 2015
• Study finds troubling link between use of muscle-building supplements and cancer 14 April, 2015
• MedicalBrief: Fat Blocker moves to silence fact checker 29 March, 2015
• UK ASA acts against USN product claims 26 March, 2015
• New consumer site casts doubt on (USN) supplement claims 24 March, 2015
• USN issues a ‘Take-down’ notice for CamCheck 18 March, 2015
• USN CreatineX4 – UK ruling 18 March, 2015
• USN ‘Carb binder’ – the scam continues 10 February, 2015
• White kidney bean extract for weight loss? 29 January, 2015
• Albe Geldenhuys / USN responds to CamCheck posting 26 January, 2015
• Oxygen myths that refuse to die 18 November, 2014
• USN 100% Whey Protein 13 October, 2014
• USN Fat Block – Fat chance 3 October, 2014
• USN Phedra-Cut Lipo XT – ASA breach ruling 2 October, 2014
• Anti-Doping Agency warns athletes about dietary supplements 11 August, 2014
• USN 19-Testo Mass – ASA ruling 28 July, 2014
• USN “Carb Binder” – scam product, ASA ruling 28 July, 2014
• USN 19 TESTO MASS – ASA ruling 9 May, 2014
• Albe Geldenhuys of USN, a master scam artist? 9 March, 2014
• Biogen Tribulus – ASA Santions – 31 January 2014 31 January, 2014
• Biogen Testoforte: ASA ruling – website advert 10 November, 2013
• Biogen Testoforte: ASA ruling – print advert 10 November, 2013
• Biogen Tribulus – ASA Breach ruling – 8 November 2013 8 November, 2013
• USN Pure Protein Bar – ASA ruling 10 October, 2013
• Biogen Tribulus – ASA ruling – 11 September 2013 11 September, 2013
• USN Phedra-Cut Hardcore – ASA Ruling 10 June, 2013
• USN Fat Block – Lie, no proof that it blocks fat 7 May, 2013
• USN Phedra-Cut LipoXT product – ASA ruling 7 April, 2013
• USN Weight loss product’s claims are ‘misleading’ 4 February, 2013
• USN Phedra-Cut Hardcore – No proof! 17 January, 2013
• USN Phedra-Cut Lipo XT – ASA ruling 1 August, 2012
• Biogen Andrenal Boost nonsense 12 August, 2011
• Protein supplements give no benefit to athlete’s performance 10 July, 2011
• USN Cellu-Firm – ASA Sanctions – 15 July 2009 15 July, 2009
• USN Cellu-Firm – ASA Breach ruling – 8 June 2009 8 June, 2009
• USN Cellu-Firm – ASA Sanctions – 16 October 2008 16 October, 2008
• USN Cellu-Firm – ASA Breach ruling – 8 April 2008 8 April, 2008
• USN Cellu-Firm – ASA breach ruling – 02 April 2007 2 April, 2007
• USN Cellu-Firm – ASA ruling November 2006 28 November, 2006