FDA list of suspect diet pills grows

WASHINGTON - More than 70 weight loss pills sold in the United States 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 yesterday. The products illegally contain drugs that must be sold by prescription, and in some cases the pills contain medicines that haven't been approved in the United States, 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.