Natural doesn’t inherently equate to safer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cautioning individuals seeking weight loss solutions against consuming two popular plant-based alternatives to Ozempic, warning of potentially lethal consequences.
Candlenuts, marketed online under various names like Nuez de la India, India seeds, and India nuts, have been promoted widely as “natural Ozempic.” However, these products may be mislabeled and contain yellow oleander, which can be poisonous.
The FDA issued a safety alert specifically for two brands, Nut Diet Max and Todorganic, after discovering that they contained yellow oleander upon comparing them with authentic candlenuts. Although these products have been recalled, they are still available through certain online outlets.
“Ingestion of yellow oleander can cause severe neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular adverse health effects, which may even be fatal,” warned the FDA, listing symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and irregular heartbeats.
Following the hospitalization of a patient in Maryland who consumed a product labeled as Nuez de la India, the FDA urged consumers to exercise caution when purchasing other “botanical weight loss products.”
Dr. Joshua King, medical director at the Maryland Poison Center, expressed shock at the mix-up, speculating that the substitution may have occurred because yellow oleander is more accessible than candlenuts due to their similar appearance.
The CDC reported that a 1-year-old child in New Jersey was treated for yellow oleander poisoning after ingesting Eva Nutrition Mexican Tejocote Root, a weight loss supplement mistakenly purchased by the child’s mother. Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and slowed heart rate.
In response to concerns about mislabeled products, the New Jersey Poison Control Center tested 10 tejocote root products, finding that nine contained yellow oleander instead of tejocote root.
Amid the popularity of weight loss drugs in Hollywood, individuals have turned to social media to share their dieting experiences and discuss alternatives to medications like Ozempic or Wegovy.
However, the FDA has already cautioned against consuming off-brand drugs claiming to contain semaglutide, the active ingredient in these prescription medications.
Social media platforms have also seen claims about plant-based substitutes for popular weight loss drugs, despite skepticism from experts regarding their effectiveness.
Berberine, promoted as “nature’s Ozempic” on TikTok, has garnered attention for its supposed health benefits, including blood sugar regulation and improved digestion. Despite this, experts have criticized these claims as unsubstantiated aspects of “diet culture.”
“It is an herb—herbs can interact with other medications, supplements, and harm several populations,” warned registered dietitian Jenna Werner.
The FDA does not conduct safety, efficacy, or label accuracy tests on supplements before they are sold, placing the responsibility on manufacturers.
