Multiple brands of 'detox' and 'diet' teas have been pulled from New Zealand shelves, after investigations found they contained a pharmacy-only medicine.
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Consumer NZ has revealed several products sold in supermarkets and healthfood stores contained senna, which is used to treat constipation.
Consumer NZ's chief executive Sue Chetwin said the withdrawn teas included Healtheries Naturally Slim Lemon Tea and Naturally Slim Superfruit Acai and Blueberry Tea.
She said Healtheries Herbalax Senna Peppermint Tea had been also been pulled, alongside Senna Klenz.
"Basically these teas were glorified laxatives," she said.
"The important thing about it is that they are a pharmacy-only medicine, and you do have to have approval from medsafe to actually have that ingredient.
"None of these manufacturers had got that permission."
Long-term use of senna has been linked to liver damage, which Chetwin said was clearly problematic and the likely reason for why it was pharmacy-only.
It was concerning that many of the tea manufacturers were unaware of the regulations surrounding senna, she said.
"It wasn't hard for us to find [the regulations] and if you are a manufacturer of these products and are making claims, I imagine that you would be able to very easily find them and should know that's what you are meant to be doing."
Vitaco, which owns the Healtheries brand, said it undertook an investigation and review after concerns were raised by Consumer NZ about its teas with senna leaf.
The company said it had taken those teas off shelf in early November last year, and they no longer use senna leaf in any of their products.