Contaminated Chinese Herbs Recalled

Thursday, January 4th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) â€” Two California companies are recalling eight brands of Chinese herbs after federal testing found some bottles contaminated with a chemical that can destroy the kidneys.

Lotus Herbs of La Puente, Calif., and FineMost Corp./QualiHerb of Cerritos, Calif., recalled the products after the Food and Drug Administration detected aristolochic acid contamination.

Do not consume the recalled products but return them to the place of purchase for a refund, the companies said.

The chemical is highly toxic to the kidneys and also can cause cancer. The FDA last summer stopped imports of the herb family Aristolochia after reports of kidney failure from Britain and Belgium. While no American injuries have been reported, the FDA discovered the ingredient in some Chinese herbal mixes already in U.S. stores, resulting in several recalls.

Recalled Lotus products are:

â€”Mu Tong, lot number SL04461, expiration date 09/2004.

â€”Fang Ji, lot number SW12261, expiration date 12/2004.

The powdered herb extracts were sold in square amber-colored bottles.

Recalled QualiHerb products include all batches of:

â€”Ba Zheng San, or Dianthus formula, item No. 20209.

â€”Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang, or Stephania and Astragalus combination, item No. 20711.

â€”Chuan Mu Tong, or Clematis armandi, item No. 10424 A.

â€”Wei Ling Xian, or Clematis, item No. 12401.

â€”Han Fang Ji, or Stephania tetrandra, item No. 10731.

â€”Ma Dou Ling, or Aristolochia, item No. 11052.

The products were sold in bottles with either the Taiwanese logo Sheng Chang imprinted on the bottom or with the U.S. imprint Trans Container Corp.

Both companies' products were sold throughout the country, including by acupuncturists, chiropractors and other health workers.

Consumers can call Lotus at 1-877-665-6884, or QualiHerb at 1-800-533-5907.