Weight loss supplements are nothing new, and people have been trying all kinds of methods to strive for a slimmer figure for thousands of years. Indeed, some of the ingredients used in modern weight loss supplements are ancient herbal remedies. Unfortunately, some of these ingredients may not be completely safe for human consumption – regardless of their alleged efficacy in helping people shed pounds. This was made clear recently in New Jersey when regulators discovered the presence of a poisonous ingredient in a popular weight loss supplement.
Toxic Yellow Oleander Discovered in Weight Loss Supplement
On October 4, it was reported that toxic yellow oleander had been discovered in a popular weight loss supplement currently being consumed by many people in New Jersey. Back in September of 2022, a child accidentally consumed the weight loss supplement that his mother had purchased. He had an extremely dangerous reaction to the drug, and he narrowly escaped death. Thankfully, he survived the poisonous exposure thanks to emergency medical treatment.
The incident prompted the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) to investigate the drug. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Flora Laboratories also assisted with the investigation, which involved the online purchase and testing of 10 different weight loss supplements. The medical experts specifically targeted supplements labeled as “tejocote,” as the tejocote root has apparently become something of a weight-loss trend.
The investigators used a range of methods to analyze the supplements, including ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography. What they found was that almost all of these supplements contained no trace of genuine tejocote. Even worse, 90% of the supplements contained yellow oleander – a toxic native plant that can lead to serious health issues. The medical experts then raised the alarm over what they called an “incredibly reckless” decision to intentionally mislabel weight loss supplements.
Speaking about their findings, the researchers warned that the presence of yellow oleander was “concerning,” and that this substance is “highly toxic.” They also recommended that the FDA be notified as soon as possible. The FDA quickly responded and issued an official warning about the presence of yellow oleander in weight loss products with tejocote labels. The administration also went into detail about the possible effects of yellow oleander exposure, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Cardiac changes
- Dysrhythmia
Perhaps most notably, yellow oleander is known in the medical community as a “cardiotoxic ingredient.” This means that it can cause especially dangerous effects on the human heart.
How Do You Prove That a Specific Supplement Caused Your Health Issues?
One of the major challenges in pursuing legal action against companies that distribute dangerous supplements is proving a causational link. In other words, you need to show that your consumption of the supplement led directly to your medical issues. Companies may attempt to defend themselves by arguing that your issues may have been caused by some other substance and that there is no way to prove conclusively that their product was to blame.
This is why it is so important to get medical treatment as soon as possible after you experience health issues. By getting quick treatment, you can help doctors collect valuable data about the toxins or poisons you might have ingested. Doctors may also carefully note your symptoms and record this information within your medical records. Blood tests may help detect the presence of certain toxins such as yellow oleander. All of this information may help you prove that it was a specific health supplement that caused your health issues.
In the case noted above, a child consumed the supplement unwittingly. This may also lead to legal action, especially if the supplement company fails to use child-resistant packaging. If a supplement, medication, or health product poses a risk to children, companies are generally required to use child locks and other similar mechanisms to help prevent accidental consumption.
Can I Sue for Poisonous Supplements in New Jersey?
If you have been harmed due to a poisonous health supplement in New Jersey, you may have the opportunity to file a personal injury claim against the company responsible for manufacturing and distributing these products. Although there are certain challenges associated with proving that your ailment was directly connected to the supplement, justice and compensation are certainly possible.
