DENVER — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning against the use of weight loss supplements labeled as tejocote root after they were found to be tainted with a toxic plant.
According to the FDA, certain dietary supplements labeled as tejocote root (Crataegus mexicana) were tested and found to be substituted with yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia), a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America and a toxic substance of concern to public health officials. In other words, the tested products are labeled as tejocote but are actually toxic yellow oleander.
The FDA found that ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that might be severe or even fatal.
Symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Cardiac changes
- Dysrhythmia
To date, the FDA has tested nine samples representing nine products and found them to contain yellow oleander.
The products are typically sold online through third-party platforms.
The FDA is advising consumers to stop using and dispose of these products. Consumers who have taken any of these products of concern are advised to contact their health care provider immediately. Even if these products have not been used recently, consumers should still inform their health care provider about which product they took, so that an appropriate evaluation may be conducted, the FDA says.
Consumers should call 911 or get emergency medical help right away if they or someone under their care has serious side effects from these products. Consumers can also contact the state poison control center.
In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report of several tejocote root products found to be substituted with toxic yellow oleander. Based on this report, the FDA initiated an investigation to sample and test additional tejocote root products.
Based on the FDA’s sampling and testing results thus far, the FDA is also concerned that other products marketed as tejocote (including with other names such as Crataegus mexicana, Raiz de Tejocote, and Mexican Hawthorn) may contain yellow oleander.
The FDA is actively working with the third-party platforms where these products are sold.
The FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and the FDA will continue to provide information on any further actions as it becomes available. Products may be added to this advisory. The FDA is working to address the concerns related to these products and monitoring the market for adverse events, product complaints, and other emerging issues.
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