A herbal supplement sold on Amazon is being recalled after it was revealed to be laced with a substance found in illicit street drugs.
Infla-650 is a $55 ‘blend of ancient Indian herbs’ sold nationwide, including on Amazon, that claims to help soothe the joints of users and maintain healthy bones.
But routine FDA testing revealed the ‘supplements’ were tainted with three drugs not listed on the label — including Phenylbutazone, which was also banned in the US in the 1980s after it was linked to a spate of deaths.
Swabs also revealed acetaminophen in the supplements, the active ingredient in the painkiller paracetamol, and Diclofenac, which is used in anti-inflammatory drugs. In high doses these can be deadly also.
Infla-650 is a $55 ‘blend of ancient Indian herbs’ sold nationwide that claims to help soothe the joints of users and maintain healthy bones (product pictured above). It is now being recalled
Routine testing by the FDA found the products were contaminated with three drugs, making it illegal to sell them as supplements
The FDA ordered a lot of the product to be recalled from across the US, where it is sold in vitamin and supplement shops. There have been no reports of adverse effects to date.
The agency said: ‘Use of the product poses a serious threat to consumers.
‘Infla-650 Herbal Dietary Supplement Capsules is an unapproved new drug for which safety and efficacy have not been established and, therefore, subject to recall.’
Phenylbutazone can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and damage to the liver and kidneys. In serious cases, it can also cause the bone marrow to stop producing enough blood cells — risking severe bleeding, infections and death.
The drug was banned in the US and UK after its Swiss manufacturer said in 1982 that it may be linked to 1,182 deaths. Today, officials say it still appears in the US as an adulterant in street drugs.
The FDA also raised concerns that consumers using the product may unintentionally overdose on acetaminophen, putting them at risk of liver failure.
And the agency said diclofenac raised the risk of heart attacks or strokes as well as gastrointestinal bleeding and fatal perforation of the stomach lining.
The supplements claim to help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain
Similarly, they said the drugs in the supplement could interact with others patients are taking — leading to adverse events.
It was not clear how much of each drug the supplement capsules contained, but it was believed to be only very small amounts.
GURU INC, which marketed the product, is notifying distributors and customers of the recall via email.
The recalled products have the Lot No. IN-032 and the expiration date of November 2027. They were shipped to retailers nationwide between March and June this year.
The FDA advised consumers that have the recalled product to stop using it immediately and return it to the shop where it was purcahsed.
It comes after the FDA recalled THC-infused gummies and candies sold in multiple states after people were hospitalized and a death was ‘potentially’ linked to the treats.
A total of 39 illnesses have been reported among those who consumed Diamond Shruumz candies.
Symptoms included seizures, involuntary muscle contraction, nausea and vomiting and loss of consciousness.
