Vitamins and Supplements Recalled Due to Packaging Issues
Over 350,000 vitamins and dietary supplements are being recalled because of inadequate packaging, which federal authorities warn could lead to serious injuries or even fatalities in children.
VitaQuest International, a company based in New Jersey, has voluntarily recalled about 356,140 dietary supplements that contain iron. This action comes after concerns that the packaging does not meet the child-safety standards set by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The commission stated, “Because of the iron in these dietary supplements, they need to be packed in child-resistant containers.” They added that the current packaging does not prevent young children from accessing the contents, which could lead to poisoning if swallowed.
To address the issue, VitaQuest International highlighted that the intended purpose of child-safe packaging is to keep young children from mistakenly consuming amounts that could lead to iron toxicity. They reassured consumers that aside from the packaging concern, the formulation and quality of the supplements themselves remain intact.
“While the product formulation and iron content are safe when used as directed, we are conducting this recall to protect young children from the risk of accessing the product and ingesting more than directed,” the company noted on its website.
The recall affects various products, including prenatal vitamins and supplements designed for bariatric surgery patients. Among the items listed is Zenbean Kids Café Instant Coffee + Nutrition Latte, a caffeine-free alternative marketed for children in multiple flavors.
The recalled products were sold under various brand names, such as Arey, Bari Life, Bird&Be, Biote, Dr. Fuhrman, NuLife, HMR, Bariatric Pal, Noevir, Zenbean, and Sakara. These products found their way to store shelves between April 2023 and February 2026 across various retailers, including Credo Beauty, Erewhon, Healf, Nutrition World, The Vitamin Shoppe, Fullscript, Ulta Beauty, healthcare offices, and Amazon, with prices ranging from $13 to $130 based on brand and size.
Consumers are advised to store these supplements well out of children’s reach and to reach out to VitaQuest International for details on obtaining a free child-safe replacement cap or storage pouch.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries linked to the issues with the packaging.
