The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about some botanical weight loss products they say could contain a poisonous plant.
The products, labeled Nuez de la India and marketed as “India Nuts for Weight Loss,” “slimming seeds,” or “diet seeds,” appear to contain highly toxic yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America.
According to the FDA, ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems that could be severe, or even fatal. One person in Maryland has been hospitalized after taking the supplements, which are typically sold online through places such as Amazon, Walmart and eBay.
Yellow oleander can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia, and more.
People are advised to stop using Nut Diet Max Brand, seeds or capsules, or Todorganic Natural Brand seeds marketed as Nuez de la India, India nuts, or India seeds and use extreme caution with other India nut products due to the similar appearance of non-toxic candlenut seeds and highly toxic yellow oleander seeds.
The FDA also advises people who have taken these products to contact their healthcare provider for an evaluation.
