KABUL (Pajhwok): Nearly three months after the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced a ban on the use, purchase and sale of “Cacao King”, a cocoa-based weight-gain product, it is still being sold in some shops in the capital Kabul.
A ministry official confirmed that monitoring and collection of the product from markets is ongoing.
Eng. Syed Niamat Hussinian, an expert in food sciences at the capacity-building and public awareness department of the MoPH, said in a video message in February 2026 that following complaints from consumers, the product was tested in the ministry’s laboratory.
He added: “As a result of our tests, it was found that this product does not meet the standards set by the MoPH and its use is considered potentially dangerous.”
On-the-spot report
A Pajhwok Afghan News reporter, after visiting several shops and food stores in Kabul in recent days, found that the product is still being sold in some outlets.
Different views from shopkeepers
A shopkeeper in the Qala-e-Fatullah area of Kabul said: “At first we sold Cacao King a lot, but now counterfeit versions have entered the market and sales have decreased. Only one piece is left and we have not brought more.”
He added: “It is difficult to distinguish between original and fake versions. God forbid, if it harms someone, what can we do? Earlier, people used to buy it a lot for weight gain, even though the price was 100 to 200 afghanis. But now, after the announcements, fewer people buy it.”
Another shopkeeper in the sixth street of Qala-e-Fatullah said sales had decreased, adding: “It has no harm. I have never seen anyone harmed by it… people are suspicious, they say it is better not to buy it.”
Meanwhile, Jawed (not his real name), another shopkeeper in Shahr-i-Naw area of Kabul, said: “Do not consume Cacao King, it is very harmful. It has already killed three people. The municipality collects it and it is hard to find in the market.”
The Pajhwok reporter also visited several pharmacies and shops. Small quantities of the product were found in some outlets, while most pharmacy and shop owners said they were not selling it due to the MoPH ban.
Collection process time-consuming: MoPH
Eng. Syed Niamat Hussinian said laboratory tests had shown the product does not meet ministry standards and its use is potentially dangerous.
He said repeated consumption could cause increased heart rate, reduced concentration, insomnia and various digestive problems.
He said the Food and Drugs Authority had instructed field staff to collect and destroy the product from markets.
However, he did not provide figures on how much had been collected so far.
He added: “Our field teams in the centre and provinces collect and destroy this product daily. But because imports are high and it is still smuggled into shops and wholesale markets, it is still available. Our inspection teams are working to remove it from the market as soon as possible, but this process takes time.”
He said the ministry had instructed customs authorities to prevent its import, and security agencies had been told to stop smuggling, while coordination had been made with municipalities to assist in its removal.
He urged citizens to avoid using the product and to take care of their health and that of their families.
Doctor: Avoid using Cacao King
Dr. Syed Farid Shah Rafie, an internal medicine specialist at Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul, said laboratory examinations led the MoPH to ban the product.
He said it may contain dangerous substances such as stimulants, methamphetamines, synthetic cannabinoids (hashish-like substances), opiates, sedatives (benzodiazepines) or unknown materials that could cause seizures, unconsciousness and even death.
He advised people to avoid such products, not to trust social media advertisements or unreliable pages, and called on media outlets to raise public awareness.
He also urged immediate medical consultation in case of symptoms and said such substances should be kept out of children’s reach.
He added: “In emergency and ICU departments, we see patients with reduced consciousness, seizures and hallucinations caused by unknown or contaminated substances. These conditions resemble effects of such smuggled products, but I have not personally confirmed cases directly linked to this specific product.”
Users
Shafiqullah Noori, a Facebook user, wrote: “I used this cacao for three days morning and evening before meals on the advice of a pharmacy worker. I experienced severe heart palpitations, extreme muscle weakness and dry mouth… I went to a doctor, and he advised me to avoid all sweets for 15 days… this product is deadly.”
Meanwhile, Huriya, 15, a resident of Khairkhana area of Kabul, said: “They said Cacao King makes you gain weight. Because I was underweight, I bought a box and used it, but I realised only my stomach got bigger, so I stopped using it.”
She added that her stomach returned to normal after stopping its use.
Another user, Rukhsar from Karte Parwan area of Kabul, said she used the product to gain weight: “My weight was very low. A friend suggested Cacao King. I bought it for 350 afghanis from a pharmacy. When I used it, it increased my appetite a lot.”
She said that she consumed only half a box but did not gain weight; instead, she developed stomach pain.
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