Israel's Health Ministry Warns of Dangerous Unregistered Weight Loss Peptides

Israel's Ministry of Health issued a warning on October 30th about the dangers of purchasing and using illegal peptides, which are being marketed as weight loss aids, muscle builders, skin rejuvenators, and performance enhancers. These substances are sold as injections and pills and include products like BPC-157, GHK-Cu, CJC-1295, and TB-500. The ministry also highlighted Retatrutide, an obesity treatment still in clinical trials, which is not officially registered or sold in Israel. The Ministry stated that using these substances from unverified sources can cause severe health damage, including liver and kidney damage, hormonal imbalances, blood sugar issues, allergic reactions, and infections. Additionally, improperly manufactured or packaged products may contain unknown contaminants.

The warning comes amid similar alerts from health authorities in Canada and Australia, as the growing popularity of weight loss drugs fuels an expanding black market for illicit products. Dr. Liat Barzilai-Yosef, an endocrinologist, explained that obesity is now recognized as a complex disease requiring medical intervention beyond lifestyle changes. She noted that while GLP-1 drugs, initially for diabetes, have revolutionized obesity treatment by regulating hunger and satiety, their high cost creates barriers.

Dr. Barzilai-Yosef elaborated that the high demand and difficulty in obtaining legitimate treatments push individuals to the black market, citing Retatrutide as an example. She emphasized that improper storage, especially for protein-based compounds requiring refrigeration, can render them ineffective. Furthermore, buyers often don't know the actual contents of black market products, which could include dangerous substances like thyroid hormones, leading to severe complications. She urged caution against using such unverified mixtures.

To combat the black market, Dr. Barzilai-Yosef suggested making legitimate treatments more accessible, as cost and availability are major drivers for seeking illegal alternatives. She stressed the importance of accessible, medically supervised treatment for obesity's physical and mental health impacts, which can ultimately reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health advises purchasing medications and supplements only from authorized vendors, avoiding social media and unknown websites. Anyone experiencing adverse symptoms after using such products should seek immediate medical attention and inform their doctor. Reports of illegal product sales can be made to the Ministry's hotline at *5400.