The FDA is warning consumers about weight-loss supplements containing yellow oleander, a toxic substance that can cause serious health problems. According to the report, yellow oleander contains cardiac glycosides, compounds that can disrupt the electrical activity of the heart.
Ingestion of yellow oleander can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, changes in heart rhythm, and other neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular problems. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
The FDA expanded an existing safety alert on September 17 after testing found toxic yellow oleander in three more dietary supplements. Two of the products were Niwali products labeled as tejocote, and another was Easy Forte Natural Fiber.
The FDA has been investigating yellow oleander masquerading as weight-loss botanicals since 2023. They have found that products have been sold as tejocote root, Mexican hawthorn, Brazil seed, India seed, and other botanical weight-loss products, often through online marketplaces.
The agency’s investigation is ongoing, and it continues to test suspect products. In August, FDA testing found one weight-loss product called DMagic Plus contained not only yellow-oleander compounds but also undeclared diclofenac, a prescription NSAID. Another product, B. Magi, contained yellow-oleander compounds plus undeclared phenolphthalein, a chemical the FDA says studies suggest may increase cancer risk.
Consumers are advised to stop using it and throw it away if they have purchased any product on the FDA’s yellow-oleander warning list. The FDA says people who have taken one of the identified products should contact a healthcare provider, even if they haven’t used it recently.
Then on Sept. 21, Global Mix recalled Niwali Tejocote Capsules and Tejocote Pieces after FDA testing showed the stuff labeled tejocote was actually yellow oleander.
