Dietary supplements sold at Sam’s Club nationwide linked to salmonella outbreak: FDA
(KNWA/KFTA) – Nearly a dozen cases of salmonella in seven states have been linked to dried nutritional supplements sold at Sam’s Club, health officials announced Friday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating illnesses associated with Organic Mark Super Greens powder supplements, which are sold at wholesale chains nationwide and online.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the products were removed from store shelves because they contained moringa leaf powder that may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
Illnesses associated with use of the product have been reported in Kansas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Michigan. Three people infected with salmonella were taken to the hospital, according to the CDC.
An FDA investigation revealed that salmonella had been traced to one batch of organic moringa leaf powder imported from Vallon Farm Direct in Jodhpur, India.
Health officials in Michigan and Virginia collected and tested samples of the product from the homes of people who became ill.
Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health says that moringa is a plant native to India and other countries that is known to contain essential nutrients such as protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
The CDC says salmonella can cause symptoms that include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The agency said the infection can be severe in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, who may need to be hospitalized.
Health officials also noted in the report that more Vallon Farm products containing moringa leaf powder may be added to its list to avoid as the investigation continues.
