Bottles of a certain weight loss drug may have been tampered with.
The drug, called Alli, is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and is sold over the counter in the U.S., Reuters reported. The Food and Drug Administration has been investigating the case.
So far 20 bottles that have been sold in seven mostly southern states were reported to contain something other than Alli. These bottles tended to contain pills of "different shapes and colors," Reuters reported. The authentic pills are turquoise.
"We are doing an investigation to determine any further action," Glaxo spokeswoman Deborah Bolding told Reuters.
So far there have been no reports of injury of illness from the tampered-with bottles. There are no specific serial numbers associated with the issue but GlaxoSmithKline urges anyone who feels as if their product has been tampered with to contact their doctor.
The affected bottles have been reported in "Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina and Texas," Reuters reported.
Anyone who comes across a suspicious Alli bottle is asked to call 800-671-2554. The drug is approved for weight loss aid in adults in combination with lifestyle changes and a healthy diet, NPR reported.
Drug tampering has been an issue in the past. In 1982 seven people died after ingesting contaminated Tylenol. This is when tamper-resistant packing started to be developed. In 2000 the Food and Drug Administration required that all medications employ tamper-evident packaging.
All Alli consumers should look out for warning signs: "the bottle's tamper evident seal may not be intact, not be made of foil and/or not have the authentic alli® wording: "Sealed for your Protection," the Alli website reported.
Lot numbers and expiration dates that have contained contaminated bottles this far include: Carton Lot 14372, Expiration: 02/28/2016; Carton Lot 14395, Expiration: 02/28/2016; Carton Lot 14124, Expiration: 09/30/2015; Carton Lot 14267, Expiration: 01/31/2016; Carton Lot 14442, Expiration: 04/30/2016.
