East Earth Herb Recalls Products Containing Aristolochic Acid

EUGENE, Ore.--East Earth Herb Co., based here, announced a recall of certain products that were contaminated with aristolochic acid, a compound that may cause kidney damage. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified East Earth that in testing some of the company's products it had found the presence of aristolochic acid; FDA in June issued a medical alert about possible nephrotoxicity associated with species of Aristolochia or its aristolochic acids (see www.naturalproductsinsider.com/hotnews/06h595454.html for details). East Earth responded to FDA's notification by recalling certain lots of its Jade Pharmacy brand Meridian Circulation tablets and liquid extract, as well as Quell Fire tablets.

According to an East Earth notice, it had detected the acid in some of its products in August 2000. As a result, the company reformulated its products to be free of herbs that may be adulterated with aristolochic acid. The Associated Press reported that a spokeswoman for the company would not say why a recall was not immediately announced in August. Calls to East Earth were not returned by end of day Nov. 29.

For information on which lot numbers were recalled, visit www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/eastearth11_00.html.