WASHINGTON — Supermarkets and other retail outlets that sell dietary supplements have begun accepting returns of various Hydroxycut products, following a voluntary recall announced Friday by the manufacturer.
The recall of the popular weight-loss/energy-enhancement aids were implemented after the Food and Drug Administration determined the fat-burning supplement was a common factor in 23 reports of liver injury, ranging from jaundice to liver failure and death.
While acknowledging such incidences were uncommon, FDA officials were alarmed that all patients reported they had not exceeded the recommended doses. “Adverse events are rare, but exist,” said Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The cases were reported over a number of years, and only recently was the connection to the supplement made, officials later added.
There are total of 14 Hydroxycut products that are part of the recall, including caplets, drink packets, liquid shots and ready-to-drink varieties. The FDA noted that two other products under the brand, Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia, are not affected by the recall. The products are manufactured in Canada and distributed in the United States by Iovate Health Sciences USA, Blasdell, N.Y.
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