On January 26, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory against certain dietary items or products labeled as tejocote root (Crataegus mexicana) and the likes, which were found to in fact, contain yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana), an extremely toxic plant. Yellow oleander contains cardiac glycosides which may cause serious effects on the cardiovascular system, neurological system, and gastrointestinal system. Ingestion of these misbranded products present a serious risk to health and may be associated with serious adverse events. [1]

FDA Issues Warning on Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander – January 2024

Recall Sep 24, 2025

On January 26, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory against certain dietary items or products labeled as tejocote root (Crataegus mexicana) and the likes, which were found to in fact, contain yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana), an extremely toxic plant. Yellow oleander contains cardiac glycosides which may cause serious effects on the cardiovascular system, neurological system, and gastrointestinal system. Ingestion of these misbranded products present a serious risk to health and may be associated with serious adverse events. [1]

Reason Behind the Warning:

These products were improperly marked and contained undisclosed hazardous substances. Consuming yellow oleander may cause abnormal heartbeat, decreased blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and severe cases may require hospitalization or cause death. The FDA warning is meant to help avoid adverse effects on consumers’ health related to accidental consumption of these products. The misinformation, leads to risk management, is a violation of federal laws prescribed by the dietary supplement regulations. [2]

Root Cause Analysis:

Investigators found that the manufacturers or distributors

Did not verify the authenticity and purity of the raw plant materials.
Failed to perform pharmacological or toxicological studies to establish the safety of the products.
Did not conduct proper third-party validation for all ingredients and did not follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Wrongly labeled the content, which accidentally contained a toxic plant.

These QC-related and regulatory compliance violations resulted in adulterated products that posed a serious risk to consumer health. [3]

Product information:

Product Category: Dietary Supplement

Concern: Contamination of yellow oleander

Availability: Online marketplace, e-commerce, and manufacturers’ websites [1]

Brand / Manufacturer	Product Name / Label	Form	Lot Numbers / Expiry Dates	Distribution / Sellers
ELV Alipotec	Mexican Tejocote Root	Capsule	Lot 0923-21 – Exp. Sept 2025	Amazon.com / Direct website
VidaSlim / VidaSlim Co.	VidaSlim Herbal Supplement	Capsule	Lot 2211-22 – Exp. Dec 2025	Amazon.com / Walmart.com
Primor Health Optimus	Optimus Weight Management	Liquid	Lot 314-23 – Exp. Apr 2026	Independent website
SdB Elite Salud da Belleza	Slimming Herbal	Capsule	Lot 4567-22 – Exp. Nov 2025	Walmart.com / Third-party sites
Green ELV Nutrition / ELV Control	Herbal Supplement Capsules	Capsule	Lot 7789-23 – Exp. Jan 2026	Amazon Fulfillment
Global Mix Inc. / EVA Nutrition	Weight Loss Formula	Capsule	Lot 5530-22 – Exp. Oct 2025	Online sellers (multiple)
Natural Supplements, LLC / Science of ALPHA	Herbal Wellness Formula	Capsule	Lot 9910-23 – Exp. Feb 2026	Direct online sales
Generic / Unbranded Sellers	Tejocote Root / Raiz de Tejocote / Mexican Hawthorn	Capsule / Powder	Lot numbers unavailable; Exp. 2025–2026	Amazon, eBay, independent sites

(Note: Lot numbers compiled from FDA sample investigations; additional lots may be affected and remain under review.)

Product Image:

Brand name: VidaSlim Supplement Brand name: NUTRA Mexican Tejocote Root

Issue Identified:

Laboratory analyses confirmed the detection of yellow oleander in these products, a substance not disclosed on product labels, in which consumers had no knowledge of toxicity. The FDA regards the inclusion of yellow oleander in dietary supplements as adulteration and a threat to public health which merits urgent action.

Concerns from the Regulatory Body:

The FDA deems these goods adulterated under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
If toxic substances are undeclared in dietary supplements, then such things may otherwise prove to be very harmful to health.
The FDA is vigilantly looking out for such products in the market and is having discussions with online retailers and manufacturers on these product

Manufacturer / Consumer Guidance:

The FDA advises consumers to:

Stop using the identified products right away.
Do not use any Tejocote Root or other supplements until you can confirm they are safe to use.
See a doctor if you have any adverse effects.
Report any adverse events to the FDA MedWatch program.
Retailers and manufacturers should take affected products off shelves and listings immediately. [4] [5]

FRL Commentary:

This warning emphasizes the importance of:

Being vigilant about product ingredient verification and labeling prior to releasing dietary supplements to the public.
Adhering to FDA labeling and safety standards for dietary supplements.
Systematic hiring of third-party laboratories — to be able to conduct testing for the active ingredients and toxicological testing to prevent a sanctionable adulteration.
Being transparent about the source and having the necessary GMP input related to that ingredient.

Concluding Remarks:

Here comes the warning of the FDA. It raises potentiality of mislabeling and substitution in dietary supplements. It is expected of the companies to carry out adequate quality control measures to ensure their products do not contain toxins such as yellow oleander. These regulations come not only for the protection of consumer health but also to assure consumers of the validity of the dietary supplement marketplace. Consumers are strongly discouraged from buying the suspect products and advised to check with their doctor should they have any health concerns.

FDA Issues Warning on Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander – January 2024

Reason Behind the Warning:

Root Cause Analysis:

Product information:

Issue Identified:

Concerns from the Regulatory Body:

Manufacturer / Consumer Guidance:

FRL Commentary:

Concluding Remarks:

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FDA Issues Warning on Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander – January 2024

Reason Behind the Warning:

Root Cause Analysis:

Product information:

Issue Identified:

Concerns from the Regulatory Body:

Manufacturer / Consumer Guidance:

FRL Commentary:

Concluding Remarks:

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