Miracle health cures under the microscope The problem

Householders are being increasingly bombarded with mailings and emails from unscrupulous sellers of products promising a quick fix for all manner of medical problems.

These fraudsters will tell you that their pills, patches, lotions, creams and other products will cure everything from baldness to cancer.

Whatever the ailment you’ll probably find someone, somewhere promising a ‘cure’ – from arthritis and heart disease to obesity, impotence and multiple sclerosis.

Slimming products

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) estimates that around 200,000 UK consumers lose about £20m a year to miracle health and slimming cures.

But it says these ‘cures’ – which are medically ineffective and, in some cases, potentially dangerous - are peddled by professional scammers.

In January the government took action against a ‘miracle’ slimming chocolate which promised dieters they would lose at least 20lbs in 20 days.

'Negative calories'

Hong Kong based Global DM Licensing sent out mailings claiming the more 'Slim-Choc' you ate, the more weight you'd lose.

The company said Slim-Choc had been developed following decades of research and was based on the medical theory of 'negative calories'.

It said this was where certain foods were so healthy that the body used up more calories and energy digesting them than they contain.

Medical advice

The mailings described how some women had lost up to 72lbs in just over 3 months, and recommended people spend £37 on a 40 day supply of Slim-Choc.

When the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) asked Global DM Licensing for evidence, the company said it had decided to stop advertising Slim-Choc in the UK.

If you’ve bought a medical product which you're unsure about, consult your GP or pharmacist.

You can also call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 for advice.