Health regulators have issued an urgent recall of 91,800 packets of St John's wort tablets after some were found to contain a toxin that could cause liver damage. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned that six batches of the herbal treatment, on sale since September 2013 and expiring between May and August 2016, were contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids above safe levels.
The affected tablets, manufactured for Superdrug, Asda and HRI Herbal Medicine, are used to treat depression, anxiety, loss of appetite and insomnia. The MHRA said the contamination likely occurred when St John's wort plants were harvested alongside poisonous weeds.
Gerald Heddell, director of inspection, enforcement and standards at MHRA, urged consumers to check their medicine cabinets and return any affected packs to the Herbal Research Company. He stressed the recall was precautionary, as no health problems have been reported so far.
Symptoms of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning include yellowing of the eyes or skin, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, abdominal pain and unusual tiredness. Anyone experiencing these after taking the tablets should consult a doctor immediately.
The recalled batches are: Asda St John's wort (batch 14279), Superdrug St John's wort (batch 14523) and HRI Good Mood (batches 14255, 14662, 14498, 14660). Each pack contains 30 tablets.
