Costa Rican Health Ministry issues alert about ‘tongue mesh’ weight-loss product

Costa Rica’s Health Ministry issued a health alert this week on a product known as supralingual mesh, or slimming mesh, a small piece that is sewn on the tongue to diminish the taste of food.

The product promises to help users lose up to 15 pounds a month, but a different use was listed during its sanitary registration in the country, the ministry said in a press release.

The product is being offered to the public as a “fast, effective and economical way to lose weight,” because it reduces the normal tasting sensation for solid foods. People who use it are forced almost exclusively to consume liquids.

But its use is not only risky from a nutritional point of view: “It can cause pain, bad breath, oral hygiene problems and infections that could jeopardize the user’s life,” the ministry said.

Specialists from the Department of Health Products Regulations recommended that consumers not trust products that offer immediate weight solutions, as they may endanger health and life. Instead, they recommended consulting qualified nutritionists and doctors about the best options.

The ministry urged people to report any location selling the tongue mesh by email at: denuncias@ministeriodesalud.go.cr or by phone at: 2258-6765 and 2257-2090.