Over-the-counter weight loss pills Alli returned to the market in February 2014, almost a year after it was recalled over possible tampering not only in the United States but also in Puerto Rico.
Pre-orders on Amazon were scheduled to ship were scheduled to ship on Feb. 19. Currently, the listed price for a 120-count bottle is $59.69 on Amazon with free shipping. Private citizens are also selling Alli online at a premium price of around $300 or more.
Now that it is back on the market, dieters are excited that Alli is back. However, does it mean that the weight loss pill is now totally safe?
According to the maker of Alli, British heath care company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Alli can help consumers lose one more for every two pounds they lose through diet and exercise.
GSK external communications manager Joy Lee-Calio told CBS Detroit that the company is "working hard to bring Alli back to stores" and has added "new tamper-evident packaging features."
In 2014, GSK clarified that the authentic Alli weight loss pills have a turquoise blue capsule with a dark blue band a captioned with the text "60 Orlistat." This caption pertains to the active compound that prevents fat absorption.
A mixture of capsules and tablets of various colors and shapes were reportedly found inside bottles and the labels inside the outer carton of some bottles were missing. Some bottles also had inauthentic tamper-evident seals.
Also, the authentic Alli pills come in bottles with an inner foil barrier captioned "Sealed for Your Protection."