FDA Issues Warning About Tejocote Root Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander

FDA analysis has determined that certain dietary supplements labeled as tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root are adulterated, as they were tested and found to be substituted with yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia), a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America and a toxic substance of concern to public health officials.

Ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe or even fatal. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia and more.

These products are typically sold online through third-party platforms, FDA said.

In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report of several tejocote root products found to be substituted with toxic yellow oleander. Based on this report, the FDA initiated an investigation to sample and test additional tejocote root products.

To date, the FDA has tested nine samples determined to contain yellow oleander. View a list of the tejocote root dietary supplements that were determined by FDA to be substituted with toxic yellow oleander here.

Additional sample analysis is pending, and the FDA investigation is ongoing. Based on sampling and testing results thus far, the FDA is concerned that other products marketed as tejocote (including with other names such as Crataegus mexicana, Raiz de Tejocote and Mexican Hawthorn) may contain yellow oleander.

The FDA is actively working with the third-party platforms where these products are sold.