In January 2010, The FDA has discovered that there are many counterfeited Alli product being sold in the internet.

The counterfeited product is not using Orlistat which is the real ingredient for the real Alli but they are using Sibutramine. Sibutramine is a banned ingredient due to its nasty side effect that relate to stroke or heart attack.

Sibutramine that is on the fake Alli is twice the amount of the recommended or safe level. The concern doesn't stop there, because Sibutramine usually need to be taken only once a day but Alli recommended dose is three times a day so if you are using a fake Alli you would consume Sibutramine three times a day with twice the safe dose.

Here are tips on how to spot the real one with the fake one:

LOT code information is missing from the top of the box

The real Alli use only month and year for expiration date while the fake Alli use date, month, and year.

The inside package on the real one has safety seal printed with the word "SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION", while the fake one only has plain foil with no word at all.

Inside the capsule also very different, the real one would have inside its capsule a white pellet while in the fake one it would only have white powder.

Read the official announcement by the FDA: FDA Official Report On Fake Alli

If you think you may have purchased the fake Alli, the FDA would like to hear from you at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/email/oc/oci/contact.cfmor by calling 800-551-3989.