Silver Spring, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–December 21, 2011. Eclectic Institute, Sandy, Oregon is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its freeze-dried capsules containing Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) and Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) capsules because of potential Salmonella contamination.
Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, Salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Eclectic issued this voluntary recall because a routine audit of micro-testing records revealed that the micro-tests for one batch of Gotu Kola and one batch of Bladderwrack had conflicting lab results – one positive and one negative for Salmonella.
No adverse effects or illnesses have been reported to date in connection with either of these products.
The products that are subject of this voluntary recall were sold by several different methods. Eclectic Institute sold these products to retailers, individuals, and health practitioners throughout the United States. The affected lots of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) products were sold from September 14, 2011 to December 14, 2011. The affected lots of Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) products were sold from July 14, 2011 to December 14, 2011.
This recall affects only those products with the lot numbers listed in the table below. No other Eclectic Institute products are affected by this recall. All of the freeze-dried capsules were packaged in either glass or plastic bottles. Lot numbers can be found on the bottom of the label of the product.
The specific products affected by this recall are:
| Product Name | UPC Code | Item Number | Lot Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centella asiatica | no UPC | 1771945 | 15404 |
| Gotu Kola | 23363-30507 | 3050700G | 15404 |
|
|
23363-30907 | 3090700G | 15404 |
| 23363-30907 | 3090700 | 15404 | |
| Ginkgo/Gotu Kola combination | 23363-31503 | 3150300 | 15368 & 15487 |
| |
23363-31503 | 3150300G | 15368 & 15487 |
| 23363-31903 | 3190300 | 15368 | |
| Fucus vesiculosus | no UPC | 1773645 | 15391 |
| no UPC | 1773690 | 15391 | |
| Bladderwrack | 23363-30415 | 3041500 | 15186 |
| |
23363-30515 | 3051500G | 15391 & 15306 |
| 23363-30515 | 3051500 | 15391 | |
| 23363-30915 | 3091500 | 15391 & 15306 | |
| 23363-30915 | 3091500G | 15187 |
Consumers in possession of any of these voluntarily recalled products are urged to return the product to Eclectic Institute’s headquarters in Sandy, Oregon, for a full refund. Customers can also contact Eclectic Institute via telephone at 800.332.4372, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, or by mail to 36350 SE Industrial Way, Sandy, OR.
Source: fda.gov
