CONSUMER BRIEFS

Almost 70 weight-loss pills sold in the U.S. as dietary supplements contain drugs that aren’t disclosed on the labels and can harm consumers, regulators said, expanding an earlier list.

The products, sold under names including Imelda Fat Reducer, Powerful Slim and 24 Hours Diet, may cause high blood pressure, seizures, heart attacks or strokes, the Food and Drug Administration said. The products contain drugs that are legally available by prescription only, and in some cases the pills contain medicines that haven’t been approved in the U.S., the FDA said.

Some products that claim to be “natural” or contain only herbal ingredients actually include a drug used for seizures or a solution used in chemical experiments that can cause cancer, according to the agency.

The FDA is seeking to have the diet pills pulled off the market and may take additional steps, such as seizing them or pursuing criminal charges, according to the statement. The FDA on Dec. 22 released a list of more than 25 products. The full list is at www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01933.html.