Herbal products recalled because of kidney damage risk

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Oregon company is recalling two brands of Chinese herbs because they may pose a serious health hazard: They were contaminated with a chemical that can destroy the kidneys.

East Earth Herb Inc. of Eugene, Oregon, said it has detected the chemical, called aristolochic acid, in certain batches of the following products: Jade Pharmacy brand Meridian Circulation tablets and liquid extract, and Jade Pharmacy brand Quell Fire tablets.

Do not consume the recalled products, which may be returned to the place of purchase for a refund, East Earth said. Consumers with questions may call the company at 1-800-827-4372.

The Food and Drug Administration had ordered dietary supplement manufacturers to test botanical products for aristolochic acid, a highly toxic chemical that can be found in some Chinese herbs.

The FDA last summer stopped imports of the herb family, called Aristolochia, after reports of kidney failure from Britain and Belgium. No one in the United States has been reported injured yet, but the FDA worried that the chemical might have contaminated other products still on the market.

East Earth said it detected aristolochic acid in some products last August and reformulated the brands to use ingredients that don't bear a contamination risk. A company spokeswoman wouldn't say why a recall wasn't immediately announced. The FDA's own testing turned up the chemical and the agency this month requested a recall.

To tell the difference between the recalled and new reformulated products, consumers must check lot numbers and expiration dates on the bottles. Recalled are:

_Meridian Circulation tablets, lot 2404, expiration 9/01; lot 2952, expiration 5/03; lot 3506, expiration 12/04.

_Meridian Circulation liquid, lot 9609097, 11/01; lot 9707062, expiration 9/02; lot 9804021, expiration 6/03; lot 9907026, expiration 9/04.

_Quell Fire tablets, lot 2079, expiration 4/01; lot 2623, expiration 4/02; lot 2832, expiration 11/02; lot 3012, expiration 8/03; lot 3140, expiration 11/03; lot 3553, expiration 4/04; lot 3830, expiration 7/05.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Dietary herbs may have contaminated animal tissue
July 27, 2000
Herbal supplements not child's play
June 29, 2000
Herb in weight-loss pill causes cancer, damages kidneys, researchers report
June 8, 2000
Taking herbs and prescription drugs can be dangerous, experts warn
March 20, 2000
FDA finalizes rules for supplement claims
January 6, 2000

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA/CFSAN: Aristolochic Acid
East Earth Herbs
American Association of Oriental Medicine - Aristolochic Acid

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.