FDA Issues Warning About Certain Products Containing Toxic Yellow Oleander

What is the problem?

• FDA analysis has determined that certain products labeled as tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root or Brazil seed are adulterated because they contain yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) instead of the labeled ingredients.  Yellow oleander is a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America and a toxic substance of concern to public health officials.
• FDA surveillance investigations have expanded to other botanical products marketed for weight loss. FDA is continuing to test products for toxic yellow oleander and will add products that test positive to the table below.

Recommendations for consumers

• The FDA is advising consumers to stop using and dispose of these products.
• The FDA advises consumers who have taken any of these products to contact their health care provider immediately, even if the products have not been used recently, so that an appropriate evaluation may be conducted.
• Call 9-1-1 or get emergency medical help right away if you or someone in your care has serious side effects from these products.
• Consumers can also contact the state poison control center.

Summary and Scope of the Problem

In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report of several tejocote root products found to be substituted with yellow oleander, a toxic substance. Based on this report, the FDA initiated an investigation to sample and test additional tejocote root products. As part of FDA’s ongoing surveillance sampling efforts, we continue to test products; those found to contain yellow oleander are listed above.

Based on the FDA’s sampling and testing results thus far, the FDA is also concerned that other products marketed as tejocote root (including with other names such as Crataegus mexicana, Raiz de Tejocote, and Mexican Hawthorn) may contain yellow oleander. Additional investigation by FDA has determined that some dietary supplements that are not labeled to contain tejocote root may also contain toxic, yellow oleander. Consuming yellow oleander can cause severe adverse health effects and be potentially fatal.

Actions

The FDA is actively working with the third-party platforms where these products are sold.

The FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and the FDA will continue to provide information on any further actions as it becomes available. Products may be added to this advisory. The FDA is working to further address the concerns related to these products and monitoring the market for adverse events, product complaints, and other emerging issues.

Previous Updates

August 12, 2026

The FDA has added three products to this safety alert. FDA tested the products and found that they contain toxic yellow oleander. The agency is reminding consumers to avoid these products because they have been tested and found to contain toxic yellow oleander and can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal. FDA continues to investigate the safety of botanical weight loss products on the market by testing for yellow oleander.

Additionally, two of these products contain other hidden drug ingredients and may cause life-threatening reactions. See FDA’s notifications for D Magic Plus and B. Magi for more information.

March 11, 2026

The FDA has added one additional product containing toxic yellow oleander to this Safety Alert. The complete list of products can be found in the chart below.

The agency is reminding consumers to avoid these products because they have been tested and found to contain toxic yellow oleander and can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal.

November 3, 2025

The FDA completed analytical testing of additional products that tested positive for yellow oleander, a toxic substance. These yellow oleander containing products have been added to this Safety Alert. The complete list of products can be found in the chart above.

December 3, 2024

The FDA has added two additional products containing toxic yellow oleander to this Safety Alert. The complete list of products can be found in the chart above. 

September 27, 2024

The FDA has added three additional products containing toxic yellow oleander to this Safety Alert. The complete list of products can be found in the chart above. 

April 4, 2024

The FDA has completed analytical testing of an additional product which has similarly tested positive for yellow oleander. The FDA has received adverse event reports, including one report of a serious adverse event, for Green ELV Nutrition brand Elv Control Herbal Supplement (capsules). The product has been added to the table above.

March 12, 2024

The FDA continues to receive adverse event reports related to the products identified in this Safety Alert. The agency is reminding consumers to avoid these products because they contain toxic yellow oleander and can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal. The agency continues to communicate with firms selling these products. While a few have initiated voluntary recalls (please see the updates made to the table above), the FDA is concerned that products containing toxic yellow oleander remain on the marketplace. The FDA continues to evaluate additional regulatory pathways to remove all identified products from the marketplace.

Source: https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-issues-warning-about-certain-products-containing-toxic-yellow-oleander