PFD report

Linda Jean BARANOWSKI · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 22 Jun 2017•Hertfordshire

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
2

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
5

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Continued sale and wide availability of slimming products capable of causing serious inflammatory harm
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.4

  1. Action

    Regularly monitor the internet to identify websites selling DNP and opportunities for intervention.

    Stated by National Food Crime Unit Food Standards AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 July 2017.
  2. Action

    Conduct targeted enforcement against illegal DNP sales and continue directing resources to reduce public risk.

    Stated by National Food Crime Unit Food Standards AgencyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 July 2017.
  3. Action

    Follow through on the similar product’s labelling issues with the appropriate local Trading Standards service and supplier.

    Stated by Hertfordshire Trading StandardsStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 22 July 2017.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.4

  1. Position

    The safety issue had undetermined causality, and no further information was available on which to act.

    Stated by National Food Crime Unit Food Standards AgencyUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continued sale and wide availability of slimming products capable of causing serious inflammatory harm

Wider context from the report

“The medical opinion at the inquest was that Linda Baranowski died as a result of ingesting or applying one, or a combination, of the following: • T5 diet strongest fat burner legal 30 capsules slimming weight loss pills detox • Slimming Chinese Green Tea weight loss detox burn fat herbal 30 bags • Hot Anti-Cellulite Balo slimming cream gel, chill 85ml helps burn fast • Himalayan Premium Green Tea pyramid bags Whilst I acknowledge that the precise effect of these supplements is not known, the role of the hot slimming cream in particular was highlighted by the consultant at the Specialist Burns Centre as being likely to have contributed to the fatal inflammatory response. It is my understanding that these products, and many products of a similar nature, are still on sale and widely available. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Regularly monitor the internet to identify websites selling DNP and opportunities for intervention.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Much of the market for DNP is via the internet which brings its own set of challenges, especially as most of the websites are neither hosted nor operated from within the UK. Nonetheless the NFCU is actively seeking out opportunities to make interventions including regular monitoring of the internet to identify those websites selling DNP.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Food-Standard-Agency
Page 4 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Conduct targeted enforcement against illegal DNP sales and continue directing resources to reduce public risk.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The NFCU continues to take steps to tackle the marketing and sale of 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP). Owing to the dangers posed to the public tackling the illegal sale of DNP is one of the unit’s highest priorities and will continue to be so. Whilst we have had some success in this area and there are encouraging signs that this is beginning to have a deterrent effect on both suppliers and potential users of the chemical there is still work to be done and we will continue to direct resource at this issue.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Food-Standard-Agency
Page 3 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Follow through on the similar product’s labelling issues with the appropriate local Trading Standards service and supplier.

Verbatim wording from the response

“On receipt of your report I instigated research by Hertfordshire Trading Standards Officers to gain an initial understanding as to the availability of the products referred to in your report, and those products of a similar nature. To this end a 'test purchase' was also carried out in relation to one similar product, and labelling issues with this product will be followed through with the appropriate local Trading Standards Service and supplier.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Hertfordshire-County-Council
Page 1 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Liaise and work with national government agencies and regulators to examine further safety measures for food products, supplements and topical creams.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Hertfordshire Trading Standards therefore undertakes to further liaise and work with the lead national government agencies and regulators on the safety of food products, supplements and topical creams in examining what further can be done to address your concerns in relation to the listed products. Hertfordshire Trading Standards pledges to offer input into the development of a national strategy on this issue if required and which the Food Standards Agency (being the lead national agency on food safety matters), deems appropriate.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Hertfordshire-County-Council
Page 1 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

The safety issue had undetermined causality, and no further information was available on which to act.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The presence of the chemical 2,4 Dinitrophenol was unconfirmed and the Incidents team were content that the local Trading Standards (and police) had acted promptly and appropriately to reduce risk to others who had bought the package of products. This remained an apparent safety issue of undetermined causality, and we had no further information on which to act.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Food-Standard-Agency
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Medicinal products fall under medicines legislation and MHRA responsibility rather than the Food Standards Agency’s remit.

Verbatim wording from the response

“condition in hospital and had been using slimming products which included T5 slimming pills, White tea, green tea, and a slimming gel. It was not known whether this list included all of the products that Mrs Baranowski had administered. At that time the hospital was not in a position to confirm what was causing the illness and therefore, were not ruling out any product, but it was suggested that the slimming gel might be the cause. [Note: FSA is responsible for food products; cosmetic products or anything deemed to be medicinal would come under the responsibility of the MHRA]”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Food-Standard-Agency
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Nationwide product safety concerns require national consideration and coordination by government agencies and regulators rather than solely local action.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Our research has indicated that products of a similar kind and nature to those referred to in your report are available and accessible to consumers nationwide particularly over the internet, and we therefore consider that this issue requires national, rather than local consideration and coordination.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Hertfordshire-County-Council
Page 1 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

National agencies should lead the coordinated approach to topical gel safety, with local trading standards responding to their direction.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I note that one of the products; the Hot Anti-Cellulite Balo slimming cream gel chill 85ml is not a food product or supplement but a topical gel (not covered by the Food Standards Agency), and we would welcome and encourage a coordinated approach from colleagues at a national level led by the Food Standards Agency following their liaison with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy covering general product safety in relation to such products. Hertfordshire Trading Standards will respond to their direction and suggestions as they develop.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Hertfordshire-County-Council
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2017

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. 1

    Disseminate public warnings about DNP through social media, pictorial e-cards, press releases and the FSA website.

    Stated by National Food Crime Unit Food Standards AgencyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 July 2017.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Disseminate public warnings about DNP through social media, pictorial e-cards, press releases and the FSA website.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The NFCU has continued to promote the #dnpKills message on social media, most recently with the launch of pictorial e-cards warning the public of the dangers of DNP. Press releases have also been issued along with information on the FSA website.”

Source location

2017-0341-Response-by-Food-Standard-Agency
Page 4 · response
Published 22 July 2017

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026