A company is expanding a nationwide recall of its flavored laxatives, because of microbial contamination, which it said could be behind three reported cases of serious adverse reactions.
Consuming the laxatives is unsafe and risks infection that could lead to “serious, life-threatening adverse health consequences,” according to a news release from the Food and Drug Administration. Anyone who’s immunocompromised and consumes Vi-Jon LLC’s infected laxatives is at increased risk of serious health complications.
The recall includes all three flavors of Vi-Jon’s Magnesium Citrate Saline Laxative Oral Solution, available at nationwide wholesalers and retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, Walgreens, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Publix and others.
Check to see if your laxatives are affected by looking at the National Drug Code (NDC) and the Universal Product Code (UPC):
| Affected Brand | NDC # | UPC # |
|---|---|---|
| BEST CHOICE 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 63941-533-38 | 70038200499 |
| BEST CHOICE 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 63941-516-38 | 70038587903 |
| BEST CHOICE 10OZ GRAPE CITRATE | 63941-162-38 | 70038662204 |
| CARE ONE 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 72476-001-38 | 3.4152E+11 |
| CARE ONE 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 72476-002-38 | 3.4152E+11 |
| CARIBA 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 67860-166-38 | 6.46702E+11 |
| CRUZ BLANC 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | N/A | 3.08697E+11 |
| CVS 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 63868-929-38 | 50428335178 |
| CVS 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 69842-983-38 | 50428305942 |
| CVS 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 69842-647-38 | 50428297339 |
| CVS 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 69842-647-38 | 50428285152 |
| CVS 10OZ CLR GRAPE CITRATE | 69842-763-38 | 50428307458 |
| CVS 10OZ CLR GRAPE CITRATE | 69842-763-38 | 50428325032 |
| DISCOUNT DRUG MART 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 53943-166-38 | 93351028205 |
| EQUALINE 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 41163-709-38 | 41163500679 |
| EQUALINE 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 41163-769-38 | 41163500686 |
| EQUATE 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT SRP | 49035-506-38 | 6.81131E+11 |
| EQUATE 10OZ CHERRY CIT SRP | 49035-593-38 | 6.81131E+11 |
| EQUATE 10OZ GRAPE MAG CIT SRP | 49035-592-38 | 6.81131E+11 |
| EXCHANGE SELECT 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 55301-166-38 | 6.14299E+11 |
| FAMILY WELLNESS 10OZ LEMON CITRATE | 55319-666-38 | 32251580826 |
| FAM WELLNS 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 55319-164-38 | 32251577888 |
| GOOD SENSE 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 50804-166-38 | 8.46036E+11 |
| GOOD SENSE 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 50804-164-38 | 8.46036E+11 |
| HARRIS TEETER 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 72036-002-38 | 72036726124 |
| HEB 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 37808-769-38 | 41220510863 |
| HEB 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 37808-673-38 | 41220510870 |
| HEB 10OZ GRAPE MAG CITRATE | 37808-695-38 | 41220510887 |
| HEALTH MART 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 62011-0380-1 | 52569142158 |
| HEALTH MART 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 62011-0381-1 | 52569142165 |
| KROGER 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 30142-899-38 | 41260001826 |
| KROGER 10OZ GRAPE CITRATE | 30142-806-38 | 41260008719 |
| LEADER 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 70000-0424-1 | 96295135541 |
| LEADER 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 70000-0575-1 | 96295141061 |
| LEADER 10OZ GRAPE MAG CIT | 70000-0576-1 | 96295141054 |
| MAJOR 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 0904-6787-44 | 3.09047E+11 |
| MEIJER 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 41250-708-38 | 7.13733E+11 |
| MEIJER 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 41250-769-38 | 7.13733E+11 |
| PREMIER VALUE 10OZ LOW SOD LEM CIT | 68016-696-38 | 8.40986E+11 |
| PREMIER VALUE 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 68016-701-38 | 8.40986E+11 |
| PUBLIX 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 56062-266-38 | 41415506732 |
| PUBLIX 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 56062-264-38 | 41415505735 |
| QUALITY CHOICE 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 63868-929-38 | 6.35516E+11 |
| QUALITY CHOICE 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 63868-018-38 | 6.35516E+11 |
| REXALL 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 55910-183-38 | 72785134188 |
| REXALL 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 55910-961-38 | 72785134164 |
| REXALL 10OZ GRAPE MAG CIT | 55910-615-38 | 72785134171 |
| RITE AID 10OZ LEMON CITRATE | 11822-4330-2 | 11822433006 |
| RITE AID 10OZ CHERRY CITRATE | 11822-4303-2 | 11822433037 |
| SIGNATURE CARE 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 21130-709-38 | 3.21131E+11 |
| SIGNATURE CARE 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 21130-165-38 | 3.21131E+11 |
| SOUND BODY 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 50594-166-38 | 72785114791 |
| SUNMARK 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 70677-0051-1 | 10939908445 |
| SUNMARK 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 70677-0053-1 | 10939910448 |
| SWAN 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 0869-0166-38 | 72785134058 |
| SWAN 10OZ CHRY CITRATE | 0869-0164-38 | 3.08691E+11 |
| TOPCARE 10OZ LEMON MAG CITRATE | 36800-709-38 | 36800455290 |
| TOPCARE 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 36800-164-38 | 36800455306 |
| UP&UP 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 11673-708-38 | 72785128835 |
| UP&UP 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 11673-666-38 | 72785128835 |
| WALGREENS 10OZ LEMON MAG CIT | 0363-8166-38 | 3.11917E+11 |
| WALGREENS 10OZ CHERRY CIT | 0363-8164-38 | 3.11917E+11 |
| WALGREENS 10OZ GRAPE MAG CIT | 0363-7162-38 | 3.11917E+11 |
The initial recall of the laxative’s lemon flavor came on July 14.
The first recall came after a third party discovered gluconacetobacter liquefaciens had contaminated the laxatives, according to the FDA.
The company added its cherry and grape flavors to the recall on Monday. Vi-Jon LLC, based in St. Louis, is investigating the three reports of “serious adverse reactions,” which they say could have come from consuming the laxatives.
Consumers should not use the laxatives and can return them to where they were bought.
To report adverse reactions due to the Vi-Jon’s laxatives, consumers can use the FDA’s voluntary reporting program.
