Silver Spring, MD—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the completion of analytical testing on products that tested positive for yellow oleander, a plant native to Mexico and Central America and a toxic substance of concern to public health officials. The products have been added to FDA’s Safety Alert. “The agency is reminding consumers to avoid these products because they contain toxic yellow oleander and can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal,” FDA cautioned.
FDA explained that, in September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report of tejocote root products substituted with yellow oleander. In response, FDA initiated an investigation to sample and test additional tejocote root products. Based on the FDA’s sampling and testing results, the agency is concerned that other products marketed as tejocote root (including with other names such as Crataegus mexicana, Raiz de Tejocote, and Mexican Hawthorn) may contain yellow oleander. FDA explained that certain products labeled as tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root or Brazil seed are adulterated because they contain yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) instead of the labeled ingredients.
Find a list of the products here.
