Tea Recall As Dire Warning Issued Over 'Undeclared Drugs'

A New York-based distribution company is recalling packs of Himalayan pain relief tea distributed nationwide through Amazon after the product was found to contain "undeclared drugs," the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.

In an alert issued on Friday, the federal agency announced that WS Global, headquartered in Brooklyn, was recalling packs of the tea—which come in a light yellow box and contain six packets—after they were found to contain Diclofenac and Dexamethasone, both of which are anti-inflammatory medications.

The FDA warned that the drugs have been linked to medical complaints and may cause serious side effects if taken with other medications. It first urged consumers not to purchase the tea on November 17, after discovering the undeclared drugs through laboratory testing.

Diclofenac, a non-steroidal inflammation drug, "may cause increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, as well as serious gastrointestinal damage, including bleeding, ulceration, and fatal perforation of the stomach and intestines," it warned. "This hidden drug ingredient may also interact with other medications and significantly increase the risk of adverse events," especially if taken with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, "can impair a person's ability to fight infections and can cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems," the FDA noted. "When corticosteroids are taken for a prolonged period, or at high doses, they can suppress the adrenal gland," which produces hormones that regulate metabolism, the immune system and blood pressure.

Newsweek approached WS Global via email for comment on Thursday.

WS Global said it was recalling all packs of the Himalayan Pain Relief Tea it had sold online, but had so far not received any reports of adverse health events due to the product.

Consumers who have been drinking the tea "should immediately consult their health care professional to safely discontinue use of this product," it said, because "the risks of withdrawal from corticosteroids should be assessed by a health care professional" as "abrupt discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms."

The company also urged those who had experienced problems related to using the product to contact a medical professional, while the FDA asked for adverse reactions to be reported to them.

Food recalls are often undertaken by companies due to the undeclared presence of an allergen in a particular batch of product, or because they have been found to be contaminated with a harmful bacteria or potentially damaging foreign material during the production process.

Earlier in December, hundreds of bottles of male sexual enhancement pills were recalled for containing sildenafil, a regulated ingredient used to treat erectile dysfunction. In 2020, the FDA warned against purchasing nearly 50 male enhancement or weight loss pills being sold online, after testing showed they contained active pharmaceutical ingredients.