Silver Spring, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–November 10, 2013. Sequel Naturals Inc., dba “Vega,” announced that it has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily withdrawing a limited quantity of its Vega One Nutritional Shakes and Sports Performance Protein products due to finding trace amounts of chloramphenicol (CAP), a naturally occurring antibiotic.
Chloramphenicol is a prescription drug commonly used to treat typhoid fever and eye infections around the world. It should only be used under medical supervision. It has been associated with rare cases of aplastic anemia and allergic reactions in some people. A leading expert on CAP says that there have been no known cases of anemia caused by residual amounts found in food. Pregnant or lactating women should avoid this medication.
None of the Vega product formulations include CAP as an ingredient; however, an enzyme that was provided by a third party supplier, which constitutes less than 1% of the product ingredients, was found to contain trace amounts of CAP.
As a precautionary measure, Vega is voluntarily withdrawing all of the listed product from the market and has taken steps to ensure all future products are CAP-free, including using a different source of enzymes to prevent further potential contamination and assure consumers of product purity. These actions complete a voluntary product withdrawal and ingredient resourcing that applied to Canadian products as well.
“We’re doing this out of an overabundance of caution and to ensure that when you go to the shelf, you never have to wonder about the purity of a Vega product,” said Charles Chang, Vega President and Founder.
The Vega products were distributed nationwide in retail stores.
People who have severe sensitivity or allergies to chloramphenicol may run the risk of an allergic reaction if they consume these products. There have been no reported allergic reactions from the listed products.
The following products listed here are being voluntarily withdrawn from sale:
| Product Description | Size | FG Lot | Expiry |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 15 oz | 47047800 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 15 oz | 47043100 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 30 oz | 47042000 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 30 oz | 47046600 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 1.5 oz | 47048500 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 15 oz | 47041900 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry | 15 oz | 47047100 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 15.4 oz | 47048001 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 15.4 oz | 47048000 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 15.4 oz | 47043200 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47042403 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47046801 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47042401 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47042402 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47042400 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47046802 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 30.9 oz | 47049101 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 1.5 oz | 47048600 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 15.4 oz | 47047300 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 15.4 oz | 47042300 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate | 15.4 oz | 47049601 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 13.3 oz | 47048200 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 13.3 oz | 47048201 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 13.3 oz | 47051400 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 13.3 oz | 47050600 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 13.3 oz | 47046500 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47049300 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47051800 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47042801 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47042800 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47055300 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47047000 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47042802 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 1.3 oz | 47048700 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 1.3 oz | 47052100 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47047500 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47042703 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47042701 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47042700 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47049800 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47055200 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47047501 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47047502 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla | 14.6 oz | 47042702 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 12.7 oz | 47047900 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 12.7 oz | 47050300 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 12.7 oz | 47043400 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 30.4 oz | 47049000 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 30.4 oz | 47042200 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 30.4 oz | 47046700 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 30.4 oz | 47049001 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 15.2 oz | 47042100 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 15.2 oz | 47047200 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural | 15.2 oz | 47049500 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 14 oz | 47043300 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 14 oz | 47048101 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 14 oz | 47048100 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 14 oz | 47050500 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 30.8 oz | 47049201 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 30.8 oz | 47042602 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 30.8 oz | 47042600 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 30.8 oz | 47042601 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 30.8 oz | 47046900 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 30.8 oz | 47049200 | 08/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 1.4 oz | 47051600 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 15.4 oz | 47042500 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 15.4 oz | 47047400 | 07/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 15.4 oz | 47049700 | 09/2015 |
| Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai | 15.4 oz | 47047401 | 08/2015 |
| Vega One Starter Kit | 7.4 oz | 12SE13PP1 | 05/2015 |
| Vega One Starter Kit | 7.4 oz | 13SE13PP1 | 05/2015 |
| Vega One Starter Kit | 7.4 oz | 16SE13PP1 | 05/2015 |
| Vega One Starter Kit | 7.4 oz | 17SE13PP1 | 12/2014 |
| Vega One Starter Kit | 7.4 oz | 23OC13PP1 | 07/2014 |
| Vega One Starter Kit | 7.4 oz | 24OC13PP1 | 07/2014 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate | 15.7 oz | 47043500 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate | 15.7 oz | 47048301 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate | 15.7 oz | 47048300 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate | 29 oz | 47047600 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate | 29 oz | 47042900 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate | 29 oz | 47047602 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 14.8 oz | 47048400 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 14.8 oz | 47048401 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47047704 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47047702 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47047705 | 08/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47047700 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47047701 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47043002 | 07/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47043001 | 06/2015 |
| Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla | 29.2 oz | 47050100 | 08/2015 |
All the product from the lot codes listed are completely safe for the general population. This voluntary withdrawal does not apply to any other lot of Vega product distributed anywhere in Canada or the United States. If you have purchased a product from any of the lot codes below and wish to return it, please call or email Vega for a full refund: 1-866-839-8863 or www.vegarecall.com
Recalled Product Photos Are Also Available on FDA’s Flickr Photostream.
Source: fda.gov
