Finland warns against synephrine and caffeine combo fat burners

Related tags Food supplements Bitter orange Citrus Orange

Fat burning food supplements containing a combination of caffeine and synephrine are dangerous, according to Finnish authorities which have called for their removal from shelves.

The Finnish Food Safety Authority (EVIRA) said the products were, “a serious health hazard to consumers”.

“They must therefore be withdrawn from the market.”

EVIRA said caffeine enhanced the effects of citrus extract synephrine, which could have damaging effects on the heart.

“Doubts have been voiced about the safety of food supplements containing synephrine and caffeine. Based on the risk assessments they have carried out, Denmark and Sweden have declared food supplements containing synephrine and caffeine in a combination to be unsafe to health and they may therefore not be marketed,” EVIRA said.

“Canada has also imposed a restriction to the use of products containing synephrine and caffeine.”

Evira added: “Synephrine is an ephedrine-like substance found naturally in small amounts in the peels of fruit of the Citrus family. Extracts made from Citrus aurantium, aka bitter orange, can contain considerable amounts of synephrine.”

German authorities issued a similar warning earlier this year, but the bitter orange sector has pointed to research that shows the blend is safe when used at appropriate dosages. More on that can be found here.