Healthnotes Newswire (January 25, 2001)—The Chinese herbal cold and flu remedy Neo-Concept^® Aller Relief was recalled last week by its manufacturer due to the presence of an herbal toxin linked to kidney failure and cancer.

The recall by BMK International follows notification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the product contains trace amounts of aristolochic acids. Actually a collection of compounds, aristolochic acids are thought to be responsible for several cases of kidney failure in persons taking an herbal weight-loss formula containing the herb Aristolochia fangchi.¹ The herb is a potent source of aristolochic acids.

First reported by Belgian doctors in 1993, the threat of kidney failure due to aristolochic acids has been extended to include risk of kidney cancer as well.² Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and Germany have instituted bans on all herbal products containing aristolochic acids.

While the FDA has not placed a ban on products containing aristolochic acids, it has asked manufacturers to test products and voluntarily recall those containing the potentially hazardous compounds. Both the dietary supplement industry and herbal manufacturers support the FDA. In an alert jointly released by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and the American Herbal Products Association on May 25, 2000, manufacturers were encouraged to be on the lookout for products adulterated with plants containing aristolochic acids.

Neo-Concept Aller Relief was distributed nationwide to licensed healthcare professionals and retail outlets. The lot numbers covered in the recall are 003480 and 0006480. Consumers may call BMK International at (781) 235-9999 with questions.

Representatives of the BMK International subsidiary Neo-Concept, claim the product has been reformulated to ensure that future lots do not contain aristolochic acids.