Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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FSA News Item, 3 August 2020
Mantas Kaupas was sentenced to 8 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 300 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to a number of offences, including illegally selling DNP for human consumption.
A joint operation between the FSA and West Midlands Police in 2019 led to Kaupas’s arrest for possession with intent to supply class C drugs and selling unsafe food. He sold DNP for human consumption on two occasions between January and February 2019. The substance is highly toxic and poisonous to humans.
Andrew Quinn, Deputy Head of the FSA's National Food Crime Unit, said:
'We welcome the successful outcome of this joint operation with West Midlands Police.
We take the sale of DNP for human consumption very seriously as there is a real risk of harm and even death to those who consume it. We will continue to pursue those who seek to make money from illegally and dangerously marketing it as a weight loss aid.'
What is DNP?
2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) is a highly toxic chemical which is poisonous to humans and can cause death, as well as other serious physical side effects. It is sometimes illegally marketed as a weight-loss aid.
The effects of DNP can be catastrophic and cause serious harm to health. Taking DNP has resulted in a significant number of deaths in the UK.
