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| 'Lethal' DNP diet pills still on sale despite crackdown, BBC finds | 'Lethal' DNP diet pills still on sale despite crackdown, BBC finds |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Around 19 websites believed to be selling diet products containing a chemical linked to a series of deaths in the UK have been closed down. | Around 19 websites believed to be selling diet products containing a chemical linked to a series of deaths in the UK have been closed down. |
| The Food Standards Agency said the websites selling 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) were shut down in the last year. | |
| But a BBC investigation has found hidden sites on the so-called dark web were still selling the products. | But a BBC investigation has found hidden sites on the so-called dark web were still selling the products. |
| DNP is an industrial chemical licensed for commercial use but not for human consumption. | DNP is an industrial chemical licensed for commercial use but not for human consumption. |
| 'No safe dose' | 'No safe dose' |
| In April 2015, Eloise Aimee Parry, 21, from Shrewsbury took diet pills she had bought over the internet. Later that day she was dead. | In April 2015, Eloise Aimee Parry, 21, from Shrewsbury took diet pills she had bought over the internet. Later that day she was dead. |
| Sean Cleathero died in October 2012 aged 28, after taking an illegal slimming pill in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. | Sean Cleathero died in October 2012 aged 28, after taking an illegal slimming pill in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. |
| His mother Sharon Ayres, said: "Why would people still want to take it anyway, whether they think there is a safe dose, because there isn't a safe dose?" | His mother Sharon Ayres, said: "Why would people still want to take it anyway, whether they think there is a safe dose, because there isn't a safe dose?" |
| Former Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue in the Commons following the death of Sarah Houston who died in Leeds in 2012 after she had taken pills containing DNP. | Former Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue in the Commons following the death of Sarah Houston who died in Leeds in 2012 after she had taken pills containing DNP. |
| The BBC investigation found a number of suppliers were marketing DNP as a diet product for human consumption. | The BBC investigation found a number of suppliers were marketing DNP as a diet product for human consumption. |
| A number of samples were bought online and sent for laboratory tests which found they contained about 40% DNP - a potentially lethal amount. | A number of samples were bought online and sent for laboratory tests which found they contained about 40% DNP - a potentially lethal amount. |
| Jon Griffin, analyst for Kent Scientific Services at Kent County Council, said: "You're not being able to control your body temperature, at 40 per cent that danger rises significantly, this has got some potential in there for very serious repercussions. | Jon Griffin, analyst for Kent Scientific Services at Kent County Council, said: "You're not being able to control your body temperature, at 40 per cent that danger rises significantly, this has got some potential in there for very serious repercussions. |
| "Worst case scenario would be death." | "Worst case scenario would be death." |
| What is DNP? | What is DNP? |
| The Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) seized £1.4 million worth of unlicensed dietary medicines in 2015-16, £960,000 more than two years before. | The Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) seized £1.4 million worth of unlicensed dietary medicines in 2015-16, £960,000 more than two years before. |
| Lynda Scammell, senior policy manager at the MHRA, said: "The internet offers access to a vast number of websites offering products marketed as 'slimming' or 'diet' pills. | Lynda Scammell, senior policy manager at the MHRA, said: "The internet offers access to a vast number of websites offering products marketed as 'slimming' or 'diet' pills. |
| "Many of these pills will not be licensed medicines. That means their contents are unknown and untested. | "Many of these pills will not be licensed medicines. That means their contents are unknown and untested. |
| Chances are they simply will not work, but they may contain dangerous ingredients," she said. | Chances are they simply will not work, but they may contain dangerous ingredients," she said. |
| "The consequences for your health can be devastating." | "The consequences for your health can be devastating." |