FDA Adds Several New Products to Toxic Yellow Oleander Adulteration Warning

FDA added three new products to an ongoing safety alert, warning consumers about products marketed as tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) that were actually adulterated with yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America.

The new products, marketed as Easy Forte Natural Fiber, Niwali Tejocote Capsules, and Niwali Tejocote Pieces, were found by FDA and a state partner to contain the toxic plant, which can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular health effects that can be severe or fatal.

The agency noted that it is expanding its investigation to other botanical products marketed for weight loss besides tejocote, and will continue to add products that test positive to its consumer warning. Consumers are advised to dispose of implicated products immediately, and contact healthcare providers if they’ve taken them.

FDA first issued a warning about widespread yellow oleander adulteration of products marketed as tejocote in 2024, and has updated its safety alert page with new products found to contain the toxic plant several times since.