Deborah Meaden has issued a stark warning to her followers about a scam involving slimming pills after being contacted by a fan on social media platform X.
The 64-year-old Dragons' Den star responded to a message in which a viewer asked whether the investment panel had backed the "3 sisters slimming pill" and whether it was safe to take with prescribed medication. Meaden replied: "No!! It’s a scam… don’t touch it. Utter lowlife scammers.."
The reply prompted an outpouring of support from followers, with one writing: "Anyone who knows you knows you wouldn’t get involved in this rubbish." Another simply thanked her, while a third commented: "Most should recognise that scam."
The warning comes weeks after Dragons' Den came under fire, causing an episode to be edited on BBC iPlayer. The edit followed concerns that the show promoted "unfounded" claims that a product could help myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). In the episode aired on January 18, businesswoman Giselle Boxer said she had used "diet, acupuncture, Chinese herbs and ear seeds" to aid her recovery from ME, and had turned the latter idea into the brand Acu Seeds.
After ME campaign groups complained about the pitch, the broadcaster took the episode off its streaming platform to review its contents. A BBC spokesperson said a clarification had been added to the programme on iPlayer, stating: "Acu Seeds are not intended as a cure for any medical condition and advice should always be sought from a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns."
Dragons' Den airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
