HARRISBURG, Pa., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health is warning consumers not to drink two dietary supplements produced by an Atlanta company.
Due to excess amounts of selenium and chromium, the eight- and 32-ounce bottles of "Total Body Formula" dietary supplement (in tropical orange and peach nectar flavors) and the 32-ounce bottles of "Total Body Mega Formula" (in orange/tangerine flavor), are not to be consumed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and state health departments are investigating more than a hundred cases of acute poisoning nationwide, including some in Pennsylvania.
The products have been voluntarily recalled by Total Body Essential Nutrition of Atlanta.
The Food and Drug Administration analyzed the product and found extremely high levels of selenium -- up to 40,800 micrograms per recommended serving, or more than 200 times the amount of selenium per serving (i.e., 200 micrograms) indicated on the products' labels. Selenium and chromium are trace minerals needed only in small amounts for good health.
People may develop adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, joint pain and fatigue, after five to 10 days of daily ingestion of the product. The symptoms can be followed by hair loss, nail brittleness and neurological abnormalities (such as numbness and other odd sensations in the hands, arms, legs or feet), as well as kidney and liver dysfunction.
The recalled products were distributed to retailers or sold via direct mail order to stores and customers in at least 15 states, including Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is working with the FDA, CDC, and other state health departments to contact distributors identified by the manufacturer. However, it is possible some individual purchasers of these products are not aware of the recall.
Consumers should stop using the products immediately and discard the bottles by placing them in a trash receptacle. Consumers who have been using the products and have experienced adverse reactions should consult their health care professional or their local poison control center.
For information about the product, call the FDA's toll-free food safety hotline at 1-888-SAFEFOOD. All suspect cases of selenium poisoning should be reported to local, county health departments or state health center, or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
CONTACT:
Stacy Kriedeman
(717) 787-1783
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health
