Safety Report: Botanical Weight Loss Products - Warning as they contain toxic Yellow Oleander misrepresented as Nuez de la India, USA

United States

The FDA has issued a broad warning to consumers about certain weight loss products labeled as Nuez de la India, which appear to contain toxic yellow oleander instead of the advertised product. These products, potentially described as botanical food, weight loss or slimming seeds, can cause serious health effects if consumed, and are typically sold online through third-party platforms (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, eBay). To date, 1 person in the state of Maryland is known to have been hospitalized after consuming Nut Diet Max brand Nuez de la India seeds.

Recently, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) began sampling and testing weight loss products labeled as Nuez de la India after one person in the state reported the consumption of a Nuez de la India product and was hospitalized. Nuez de la India is marketed as India nuts or seeds, which are generally understood to be nuts from the flowering tree Aleurites moluccanus, or commonly known as candlenut, candleberry, Indian walnut, kemiri, and varnish tree. Additional analyses by MDH and FDA revealed that the Nut Diet Max and Todorganic seed products contained cardiac glycosides and other characteristics consistent with yellow oleander, and not nuts from the Aleurites moluccanus plant. Based on these analyses, the Agency determined that the product appeared to be yellow oleander, and not Nuez de la India.

The affected products that were sampled and determined by the FDA to be substituted with yellow oleander are botanical weight loss products, both in seed and capsule form:

- Nuez de la India (Aleurites moluccana) capsules.
* Nut Diet Max brand Nuez de la India capsules. Responsible Firm: Natural Vida of Miami, FL (distributor)

- Nuez de la India (Aleurites moluccana) seeds. Other common names include candlenut, candleberry, Indian walnut, kemiri, and varnish tree.
* Nut Diet Max brand Nuez de la India seeds, Responsible Firm: EZ Sale Works/AMP Imports LLC of Miami, FL (seller)
* Nut Diet Max brand Nuez de la India seeds, Responsible Firm: Rapid Diets FL of Doral, FL (seller)
* Todorganic Natural Products brand Nuez de la India seeds. Responsible Firm: Todorganic Natural Products of Middleburg, FL (seller). Todorganic Natural Products of Middleburg, FL (distributor)

Below you can find pictures of the sampled seeds labeled as Nuez de la India with comparisons to authentic Nuez de la India or candlenut seeds and authentic yellow oleander seeds.

The FDA is advising consumers to stop using Nut Diet Max brand (seeds or capsules) or Todorganic Natural brand (seeds) products marketed as Nuez de la India, India nuts, or India seeds because they may contain yellow oleander. For other Nuez de la India, India nuts, or India seeds products, FDA urges customers to exercise caution because of the similar physical appearance between candlenut seeds (which are non-toxic) and highly toxic yellow oleander seeds.

On August 25, 2023, one manufacturer of these products, TODORGANIC INC., initiated a voluntary recall of its Nuez de la India Seeds after FDA analysis determined that the seeds appeared to be yellow oleander. The product was distributed online through the Amazon, eBay, and Walmart platforms.

In case you experience harm from these products, it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve issues and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care.

Source: www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-expands-warning-consumers-about-toxic-yellow-oleander-purported-be-nuez-de-la-india-certain