Ayurvedic Dietary Supplements Recalled Because Of Dangerous Levels Of Lead And Mercury

Ayurvedic Dietary Supplements Are Being Recalled. Eleven Ayurvedic dietary supplements have been recalled because they were found to contain elevated lead and mercury levels.

The elevated lead and mercury levels in the Baidyanath brand supplements imported by Butala Emporium of Jackson Heights, New York, may cause health problems, particularly in infants, small children, pregnant women, and those with underlying kidney disorders, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns. The high levels of lead and mercury were discovered during testing by the New York City Department of Health and the FDA.

The amount of lead in the supplements exceeds the recommended daily lead exposure for children less than six years old and for women of childbearing age. This lead level would likely be injurious to health. If a child or a pregnant woman is exposed to lead for a prolonged period (weeks to months), permanent damage to the central nervous system, learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems can occur. The severity of health problems depends on the duration and degree of lead exposure.

The products contain mercury in excess of safe weekly exposure and would likely be injurious to health. With short-term use, the mercury levels in these supplements can cause kidney, stomach, and intestinal symptoms. Exposure of a month or more could be lethal. Mercury consumption at the level in these products can cause psychiatric and personality disturbances, ataxia (or loss of coordination), visual loss, hearing loss, and other neurological conditions particularly to children exposed in utero. Butala is notifying individuals not to consume this product.

RECALLED SUPPLEMENTS

These Baidyanath brand supplements are included in the recall:

• Saptamrit Lauh, Batch No. SPL-04, Expiry date 4/2018
• Rajahpravartini Bati, Batch No. RAJ-15 0 & 126, Expiry Date 1/2019 & 07/2016
• Sarivadi Bati, Batch No. SRI-09, Expiry Date 04/2018
• Shankh Bati, Batch No. SHN-02, Expiry Date 08/2018
• Marichyadi Bati, Batch No. 200, Expiry Date 08/2017
• Agnitundi Bati, Batch No. 018, Expiry Date 02/2016
• Arogyavardhini Bati, Batch No. 018, Expiry Date 03/2017
• Sarivadi Bati, Batch No. SARI-015, Expiry Date 01/2019
• Brahmi Bati, Batch No. HGB-18, Expiry Date 03/2019, Batch Nos. 244 & 242, Expiry Date 03/2017 (products without Batch No. or Expiry Date are subject to this recall)
• Gaisantak Bati, Batch No. GAI-09, Expiry Date 08/2018 and Batch No. 141, Expiry Date 10/2017
• Chitrakadi Bati, Batch No. 193, Expiry Date 02/2018

The 80-count capsules are packaged in white, plastic bottles with green, yellow or orange labels under the brand name Baidyanath, made by Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan Ltd., Kolkata, India. A sticker on the cap says the product is imported by Butala Emporium. The supplements were distributed through retail stores in New York and sold online in California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. No illnesses have been reported to date.

The company advises consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers may contact Butala at 1-718-899-5590, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm ET, or email butala1@aol.com.

The FDA encourages consumers to report adverse reactions or quality problems to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.

NEED LEGAL HELP REGARDING AYURVEDIC DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).