Kylie Jenner called 'irresponsible' for advertising jelly 'laxatives' on social media

Wealthy reality TV star and businesswoman Kylie Jenner has been called 'irresponsible' for promoting a diet product that some describe as a laxative.

Earlier this month, the 28-year-old Kylie Cosmetics founder shared a 'pomegranate flavored cutting jelly' made by dietary supplement maker Foodology with her 60 million followers on TikTok.

Jenner called the dieting product 'amazing' and said it was her 'new favorite', in a video where she is eating the fibre supplement gel while getting ready.

"This is not a typical jelly, it's a cutting jelly for like digestion, de-bloating," she told her fans.

She then gives her followers a view of her slim fitting dress before heading out. The post then shows her in the back of a vehicle, once again enjoying the Foodology 'cutting jelly'.

One fan said: "It's so irresponsible for celebrities to advertise supplements and laxatives.

"There are so many impressionable kids/teens who will take this as gospel."

Another wrote online: "Her sisters promoted flat tummy laxatives and now she's promoting laxative jelly... is this apart of the 2016 trend that's been going on? I remember how big flat tummy tea was in the mid 2010s."

Others on social media came to her defense, with one writing that it's not a laxative, it is apparently an 'appetite suppressant'. The product description claims it 'really helps with food noise and bowel movements'.

Jenner shared in the clip her 'goal is to snack less for the New Year’ and she called the jelly 'so good' as she chewed on the packet that has 'chia seeds' inside of it which is supposed to be good for providing fiber, omega 3 and making you feel full for longer, per a famous internet trend.

What is 'cutting jelly'?

Cutting jelly is a gel-based supplement that's been big in South Korea over the last few years.

The Coleology Cutting Jelly from Foodology is apparently 'designed to support appetite control, carbohydrate metabolism, and daily weight management routines,' per its website.

Speaking to GQ about the product last year, Harvard professor of gastroenterology Chethan Ramprasad explained cutting jelly mainly works by making the stomach empty slower and through a 'clean out effect' on the body.

He added: "The standard approach to weight loss is still diet, exercise, lifestyle change, and a consideration of medications like GLP-1s."

The Foodology cutting jelly's ingredients include garcinia cambogia extract (HCA), which they say supports ‘metabolic balance as part of a healthy lifestyle, without complicated routines or pills'.

According to Holland and Barrett, garcinia cambogia helps to burn fat, stop cravings and control blood sugar.

Per the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, HCA has been seen to improve some aspects of digestion, but it can also come with dangerous side effects.

The NCCIH's website states it 'may be unsafe to consume garcinia cambogia products, including multi-ingredient products containing garcinia cambogia extract' and 'several cases of liver damage have been reported' with some cases having been severe.

Other side effects reported by users have included things like 'headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms', and there have been some interactions between HCA and some drugs that can impact the liver and serotonin (a hormone that boosts mood).

All in all, it says that 'little is known about whether it’s safe to use garcinia cambogia during pregnancy or while breastfeeding' and that you should talk to your health provider before taking the supplement.

UNILAD reached out to Kyle Jenner's representatives and Foodology for a comment.

Additional words by Britt Jones