Raleigh Personal Injury Cases May Arise from Natural Supplement Recall

Two FDA-recalled products are making headlines again. Not surprisingly, they concern a couple of the most common types of medications involved in personal injury cases regarding faulty drugs- “natural” medications and dietary supplements.  Both of these areas of medicine have been under scrutiny for a long time, as many of these supplements don’t adhere to FDA standards and they often don’t deliver on the promises they make. Those involved in the recent recall, however, have the potential to be deadly as well.

Forever Beautiful Brand Issues Voluntary Recall of Capsules

Those who have purchased from the Virginia-based company, Forever Beautiful, should check their supplements immediately. Forever Beautiful specializes in natural products that are supposed to promote overall health, increase energy, and assist in weight loss. Their 250mg Bee Pollen caps claim to be “all natural” and were sold as appetite suppressants and metabolism boosters. Their 300mg Infinity capsules were marketed similarly and held nearly-identical claims.

The FDA Labeled it as a Class I Recall

Class I recalls don’t occur all that often. It’s the highest level of recall, and only products that the FDA feels certain can result in personal injury will receive it. Forever Beauty’s products received high-level status because they contain sibutramine and phenolphthalein, which have no place in natural products at all, and were also not listed in the ingredients list.

• Sibutramine has been linked to heart failure, renal failure, sudden death and other conditions. It was once a prescription medication for people who were severely overweight.
• Phenolphthalein is under investigation for being a carcinogenic substance. Historically, it has been used as a laxative or has been an ingredient in over-the-counter laxatives.

The FDA Reports Weight-Loss Supplements are Often Problematic

Unfortunately, the issues associated with Forever Beautiful products are all too common. So many useless or dangerous supplements are on the market that the FDA has a page devoted totally to identifying and avoiding problematic supplements. They’re not regulated by the FDA, so it’s essential for individuals to be vigilant and avoid anything that markets itself as a natural prescription alternative, promises fast results, makes guarantees, or refers to itself as a “scientific breakthrough.” Weight-loss fraud occurs so much that the FDA maintains an ongoing list of tainted weight-loss products. So far this year, around 20 have been added to the list. There were nearly 40 penned in last year.

Raleigh Personal Injury Attorney

When in doubt, it’s best to avoid a product altogether. Some supplements have a great reputation and solid online reviews, but can still be remarkably dangerous, if not deadly. If you were hospitalized or became ill after taking a supplement, whether it was related to weight-loss or not, you may be entitled to compensation. Courts often award victims reparations for their medical expenses, time away from work, pain and suffering, and more. For a no-fee, no-obligation consultation, please contact us using our online form. You may also speak with one of our attorneys right away by calling 919-833-5555.