Israeli Health Ministry Warns Against Dangerous Weight Loss Product 'Magic Honey' Containing Banned Substance

The Israeli Ministry of Health has issued an urgent warning against the use of the weight loss product "Magic Honey," which is marketed on social media and poses serious health risks. Despite being presented as a natural and harmless remedy, the product contains sibutramine, a chemical banned in Israel and Western countries since 2010 due to its association with severe medical conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure.

A young woman identified as A. shared her experience on the morning news program "HaOlam HaBoker," explaining how she obtained the product easily via WhatsApp after promises of rapid weight loss. Shortly after starting to use it, she suffered sudden health deterioration including headaches, nausea, rapid heartbeat, hormonal imbalances, and severe hot flashes, which led her to seek emergency medical care. Despite multiple visits, medical staff initially could not identify the cause of her symptoms, and she was eventually referred to a toxicology lab.

A. described receiving misleading information from the company representative, who claimed the only active ingredients were caffeine and plant extracts, which did not explain her adverse reactions. The incident left her with ongoing hormonal issues and significant anxiety about using any weight loss products, even those approved by the Ministry of Health.

Professor Eitan Friedman, director of the Genetic Institute for Early Detection at Assuta Medical Center, confirmed that sibutramine is the dangerous substance found in "Magic Honey," emphasizing the serious health risks that led to its ban. The company behind the product has not yet responded to the Ministry's warning or media inquiries.