Wondernut not so wonderful: 'Weight-loss' product highly toxic

It’s marketed as an all-natural‚ “100% organic”‚ certified “non toxic” product that results in weight loss‚ detoxifies and lowers cholesterol‚ but the “nut” has been described as highly toxic to humans.

Last November South Africa’s Medicines Control Council – now the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority – issued a strong warning that the nuts of Aleurites moluccanus (L.) Willd. – also known as Indian Walnut‚ and marketed in South Africa as the Wondernut – had reported toxic effects in humans‚ “ranging from severe gastrointestinal irritation to death”.

That’s because it contains compounds that have irritant properties and are very strong purgatives‚ the regulator said.

“They may also act as potent tumour promoters and be very irritating to the skin and eyes. Ingestion of the nuts has been reported to cause vomiting‚ gastrointestinal pain and diarrhoea.

“Health agencies in countries such as Spain‚ Argentina‚ Chile and Brazil have prohibited the use of the seeds due to deaths reportedly caused by their ingestion for weight loss purposes.”

A Port Elizabeth accountant – who asked not to be named – told TimesLIVE this week that during the first two weeks of taking Wondernut‚ she had severe health issues – extreme nausea‚ diarrhea‚ and stomach cramps “so bad I could not stand up straight”.

“My sales agent kept telling me to keep going and eat an extra banana‚ assuring me that my body was just detoxing. I kept on taking it‚ but only every second day as my body couldn’t handle it daily.

“As I wasn’t losing weight‚ I stopped taking it‚ and a week later I started noticing that my ankles and bottom legs had started to swell.

“Now‚ three weeks later‚ I still have the swelling‚ and when I went to my doctor‚ he said my liver is enlarged and my blood pressure is high.”

She’s awaiting the results of blood tests.

The then-MCC warned consumers to avoid the product‚ and reminded those selling it that such products had to be registered as medicines.

“Effective control of such products is in the best interests of the public‚ and will be pursued with the necessary rigour.”

But five months on‚ the “Wondernut” is still being actively marketed online in South Africa. The writer received an unsolicited email from a Wondernut agent this week‚ claiming that the product is effective for “faster weight loss” and that it detoxifies‚ maintains energy‚ lowers bad cholesterol and reduces appetite.

The Wondernut website states: “This organic weight loss seeds (sic) has not been evaluated by the MCC. The organic weight loss seed is not intended to diagnose‚ treat‚ cure or prevent any disease.”

The website features a series of video interviews with sales agents‚ conducted by director and co-founder Maureen Botes‚ who makes health statements‚ including: “It has worked on cancer patients‚” and: “It can make your blood pressure drop.” She repeatedly says that those who have taken the product have seen a dramatic reduction in their cholesterol levels.

“Because it is a natural product it can’t do you any harm‚ unless you are allergic to nuts‚” Botes says.

“It’s not the nut that makes you sick‚” she says‚ referring to some of the reported adverse effects‚ “it’s the detox.”

Contacted for comment‚ Botes said: “Our legal team has asked us not to talk to you people. Please respect our privacy.”

Dr Harris Steinman‚ medical doctor‚ consumer activist‚ and editor of CAMcheck‚ a local consumers’ guide to scams and pseudoscience‚ said: “I have searched everywhere for credible evidence that this product will result in weight loss.

“I cannot find a single source to confirm the claims‚ even in traditional sources.

“Wondernut.co.za claims: ‘The nuts and capsule is certified as NO TOXIC by the United States Department of Agriculture‚ which categorises the profile of the product through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’.”
Steinman disputed this assertion.

“This is a fabrication and appears to have been copied and pasted from overseas sites selling this product‚” Steinman said.