Weight Loss Supplements Sold On Amazon & eBay Gets Urgent FDA Warnings

Health officials have issued an urgent warning for more than two dozen supplements because they may contain poisonous ingredients. The FDA alert covers 29 supplement brands that claim to contain tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root or Brazil seed, which are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants. Limited evidence suggests they may promote weight loss.

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However, an FDA analysis found the supplements actually contain yellow oleander instead of the labeled ingredients. Yellow oleander, also called Thevetia peruviana, is a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America ‘and a toxic substance of concern to public health officials,’ the FDA said.  The agency warned yellow oleander may lead to neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects, which could be severe or even fatal. These include cardiac arrest, abdominal pain and confusion, among others. 

Products in question were sold online on Amazon, eBay and Etsy, as well as independent websites. The FDA has advised consumers to immediately stop using the products and dispose of them. Several companies have recalled the products, while others have removed them or declined to issue a recall. A full list of implicated products can be found below.  

Source: Daily Mail