The US Food and Drug Administration has issued two separate safety updates about products promoted for weight loss. In one investigation, laboratory testing found toxic yellow oleander in several products sold as botanical supplements. In another, the agency found undeclared sibutramine in LUZE Fit Intensity.
These findings do not mean that every dietary supplement is contaminated. They do show why the words “natural”, “herbal” or “dietary supplement” should not be treated as a guarantee of safety. A product can contain a poisonous plant instead of the ingredient on its label, or an active drug that is not disclosed at all.
If you have used one of the named products, the priority is not to panic. Stop using it, check the current FDA advice and seek appropriate medical guidance. Serious symptoms require urgent medical help.
Key points
- On 17 September 2026, FDA added three products to its continuing yellow oleander safety alert: Niwali Tejocote Pieces, Niwali Tejocote Capsules and Easy Forte Natural Fiber.
- FDA testing found toxic yellow oleander in these products. Yellow oleander can affect the nervous system, digestive system and heart, and poisoning can be severe or fatal.
- In a separate warning dated 15 September 2026, FDA advised consumers not to purchase or use LUZE Fit Intensity after finding undeclared sibutramine.
- Sibutramine was removed from the US market because of safety concerns. It can significantly raise blood pressure or heart rate in some people and may interact dangerously with other medicines.
- FDA advises anyone who has taken a listed yellow oleander product to contact a healthcare professional immediately, even if it was not used recently.
Two warnings, two different hazards
It is important not to combine these reports into one vague story about “dangerous supplements”. The FDA identified two different problems.
The first is ingredient substitution or adulteration with yellow oleander. Some products were labelled as containing tejocote root, also called Crataegus mexicana, Mexican hawthorn or raiz de tejocote. Testing found yellow oleander instead. FDA has also found yellow oleander in some products that were not labelled as tejocote.
The second is an undeclared medicine. LUZE Fit Intensity was promoted for weight loss, but FDA laboratory analysis found sibutramine that was not listed on the label. A consumer therefore could not know from the packaging that they were taking a drug with important cardiovascular and interaction risks.
Which yellow oleander products were newly added?
FDA’s 17 September update added the following products to its list:
- Niwali Tejocote Pieces, purchased through eBay. The firm agreed to recall the product.
- Niwali Tejocote Capsules, purchased through Everymarket. The firm agreed to recall the product.
- Easy Forte Natural Fiber, purchased from Jaola Store on Amazon. At the time of the FDA update, the manufacturer had not responded to the agency’s calls or emails.
These are the newest additions, not the entire list. FDA’s advisory contains other products identified during earlier testing, and the investigation is continuing. Consumers should use the current FDA table rather than relying on an old screenshot or social-media post.
Why yellow oleander is dangerous
Yellow oleander is a poisonous plant. It contains cardiac glycosides, chemicals that can produce effects similar to digoxin and disturb the heart’s electrical activity. FDA warns that exposure can cause neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects that may be severe or fatal.
A 2023 report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described a young child who developed vomiting, low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms after ingesting a product labelled as Mexican tejocote root. Testing of 10 products sold online as tejocote found that nine contained yellow oleander and no evidence of tejocote root. This earlier investigation helped prompt wider FDA surveillance.
Possible poisoning cannot be judged safely from the package, the amount swallowed or the absence of immediate symptoms. FDA specifically advises people who have taken a listed product to contact a healthcare professional immediately, even if they did not use it recently.
What FDA found in LUZE Fit Intensity
In a separate notification, FDA advised consumers not to purchase or use LUZE Fit Intensity. The product was promoted and sold for weight loss on various websites, including Shop, and possibly in some retail stores.
FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that the product contained sibutramine that was not declared on the label. Sibutramine was previously used as a prescription weight-loss medicine, but it was removed from the US market because of safety concerns.
FDA states that sibutramine can significantly raise blood pressure or heart rate in some people. It poses particular risks for people with a history of heart disease, heart failure, an irregular heart rhythm or stroke. It may also interact with other medicines in life-threatening ways.
The hidden ingredient is the central safety issue. Even someone trying to check interactions or discuss the product with a clinician would be working from an incomplete label.
Why this matters for people with diabetes
People living with diabetes may be especially likely to encounter weight-loss marketing, but these warnings are relevant to everyone. Diabetes commonly overlaps with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and the use of several medicines. An undeclared stimulant-like drug or a substance that disrupts heart rhythm can therefore create added concern.
Do not use an unregulated weight-loss product as a substitute for prescribed diabetes, obesity, blood-pressure or cholesterol treatment. If you are considering a supplement, show the exact product and ingredient list to a pharmacist or healthcare professional. A familiar-looking label, an online review or the word “natural” cannot confirm what is actually inside.
What to do if you have one of these products
- Stop using it. FDA advises consumers to stop using and dispose of products on its yellow oleander list. FDA also advises consumers not to purchase or use LUZE Fit Intensity.
- Check the current FDA pages. Product lists can change as testing continues. Match the product name and, where available, the label photograph and seller.
- Contact a healthcare professional. FDA advises anyone who has taken a listed yellow oleander product to do this immediately, even if the product was not used recently. Tell them the product name, when it was taken and any symptoms.
- Get emergency help for serious symptoms. Call emergency services if someone becomes very unwell, faints, has chest pain, severe vomiting, breathing difficulty, confusion or a suspected abnormal heart rhythm. In the United States, call 911. Elsewhere, use your local emergency number.
- Contact poison specialists. In the United States, Poison Help is available at 1-800-222-1222. Other countries have their own poison information services.
- Report adverse events. Side effects involving LUZE Fit Intensity can be reported through FDA MedWatch. Complaints or illnesses involving yellow oleander products can be reported through the contact route on the FDA alert.
If it can be done safely, note where the product was purchased and take a clear photograph of the label before disposal. This information may help a healthcare professional or regulator identify the exact product. Do not take another dose to test whether symptoms return.
How to assess weight-loss supplement claims
No checklist can guarantee that an online product is safe, but several habits can reduce risk:
- Be cautious with promises of rapid or effortless weight loss.
- Do not assume that “all natural” means drug-free or non-toxic.
- Avoid products with incomplete labels, unclear manufacturers or sellers who cannot be contacted.
- Check official regulator warnings and recall databases, particularly for products bought through online marketplaces or social media.
- Ask a pharmacist to review possible interactions with prescription medicines.
- Remember that testimonials, before-and-after photographs and influencer promotion are not evidence of ingredient accuracy or safety.
The FDA also cautions that it cannot test and identify every product marketed as a dietary supplement that may contain harmful hidden ingredients. The absence of a product from a warning list is therefore not proof that it has been tested or approved.
What these warnings do not mean
These findings concern named products and an ongoing category of suspect products. They do not show that every vitamin, botanical product or dietary supplement contains hidden substances. They also do not prove that every product sold through the named marketplaces is unsafe.
The useful public-health message is more specific: labels and marketing claims are not always reliable, and official laboratory findings should trigger action. People should avoid the identified products, use current regulator information and seek help promptly after possible exposure.
The bottom line
FDA testing found toxic yellow oleander in several products marketed for weight loss and undeclared sibutramine in LUZE Fit Intensity. Yellow oleander can cause serious poisoning, including dangerous effects on the heart. Hidden sibutramine can raise blood pressure or heart rate and interact with other medicines.
If you have used one of the named products, stop using it and follow the current FDA advice. Contact a healthcare professional after exposure to a listed yellow oleander product, and seek emergency help for serious symptoms. For future purchases, treat “natural” as a marketing description, not a safety certificate.
Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration: FDA Issues Warning About Certain Products Containing Toxic Yellow Oleander. Updated 17 September 2026.
- US Food and Drug Administration: LUZE Fit Intensity May Be Harmful Due to Hidden Ingredient. 15 September 2026.
- Berland N, Kababick J, Santos C, Calello DP. Online Weight Loss Supplements Labelled as Tejocote Root, Substituted with Yellow Oleander. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2023;72:1016-1017. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7237a3.
This article is for general education and does not replace personalised medical advice. Seek urgent help for suspected poisoning or serious symptoms, and speak with a qualified healthcare professional about products you have taken and any medicine interactions.