Are there recalls for moringa supplements due to contamination or mislabeling in the past five years?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Yes — multiple recalls and an outbreak tied to moringa leaf powder occurred in 2025: investigators linked a single supplier lot of organic moringa leaf powder from Vallon Farmdirect (Jodhpur, India) to at least 11 illnesses and three hospitalizations, and several brands (Member’s Mark, Food To Live, Africa Imports and others) issued voluntary recalls or had products removed after FDA/CDC action [1] [2] [3]. The FDA’s outbreak investigation concluded and CDC declared the outbreak over by early December 2025 [1] [2].
1. What happened — a concise timeline of the recalls
Beginning in October–November 2025, U.S. public-health agencies tied a multistate Salmonella Richmond outbreak to a single lot (Batch No. VFD/ORG/MORP/L/24) of organic moringa leaf powder supplied by Vallon Farmdirect PVT LTD of Jodhpur, India; FDA and CDC investigators traced illnesses and issued notices as companies initiated voluntary recalls including Member’s Mark Super Greens, Food To Live products and Africa Imports’ moringa boxes [1] [3] [4]. The initial outbreak report linked illnesses with onset dates between May and September 2025 across seven states and prompted product removals and recall expansions through November 2025 [5] [6].
2. Scope and human impact — how many got sick and where
At least 11 illnesses and three hospitalizations were reported in the outbreak associated with moringa-containing supplements; cases appeared in multiple states (Florida, Kansas, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia among those listed) and investigators reported genetic matches between patient isolates and contaminated powder samples, supporting a common source [7] [5] [6].
3. What products were recalled and who recalled them
Retail and private‑label products tied to the contaminated lot were affected: Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark Super Greens powder (recalled nationwide), Food To Live’s Organic Moringa Leaf Powder and Organic Supergreens Powder Mix (select lot codes), and Africa Imports’ 1‑kg Organic Moringa Leaf Powder sold after June 5, 2025 were among the named recalls; FDA and company recall notices list specific sizes, lot ranges and retail channels [1] [4] [3].
4. Why public‑health officials singled out moringa leaf powder
Traceback and laboratory testing identified a single supplier lot of moringa leaf powder that tested positive for Salmonella; whole‑genome sequencing linked patient isolates to the contaminated powder, which strengthened investigator confidence that the lot was the outbreak source and justified broad recall actions for products using that powder [1] [5].
5. Regulatory posture and limits of oversight
FDA statements emphasized voluntary recalls by companies after agency testing and investigation; the reporting also noted that dietary supplements are not subject to pre‑market FDA approval, meaning contaminated ingredients can enter retail channels before detection — a systemic vulnerability flagged in coverage of this outbreak [8] [1].
6. Advice to consumers and clinicians from public agencies
Public notices urged consumers to stop using or discard identified products, seek medical care if symptomatic, and for clinicians to consider Salmonella testing when patients report exposure to recalled moringa products; agencies also advised retailers to cease distribution and notify customers where feasible [1] [2] [6].
7. Alternative perspectives and unresolved questions
Coverage is unanimous that a single contaminated lot caused this outbreak; available sources do not mention product mislabeling or chemical contamination incidents in these 2025 recalls — the focus across FDA/CDC and reporting outlets is on Salmonella contamination from the supplier lot rather than deliberate mislabeling [1] [4] [3]. Sources note ongoing testing at times of reporting, leaving open whether additional products or suppliers might later be implicated [1] [5].
8. What this means for moringa supplements generally
The outbreak demonstrates that botanicals like moringa can pose foodborne‑illness risks when contaminated at the source; while these reports document a specific contaminated lot and resulting recalls, they do not establish that all moringa supplements are unsafe — rather they underline the need for supply‑chain testing, stronger supplier oversight and consumer vigilance when recalls are announced [1] [4].
Limitations: this analysis uses only the provided reporting and agency notices; if you want documents such as the full FDA recall notices or CDC line‑lists, those are referenced in the sources and can be retrieved directly from the FDA and CDC pages cited [1] [2].