In a company announcement, Florida-based Summit Labs voluntarily recalled its Kore Organic Watermelon CBD Oil Tincture 30 ml bottle. A random sample tested by The Florida Department of Agriculture Consumer Services found the product to contain lead at levels of 4.7 ppm. When another sample from the same batch was tested, they found only .5 ppm, which falls within the legal limit as determined by the state of Florida. However, in order to take precaution, the company decided to move forward with the full recall.
Summit Labs released the following statement:
“Based on the test from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Summit Labs initiated, and will complete, a full recall of Batch #730 Lot #K018 in full cooperation with the FDA and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.”
As a public service, the FDA has posted the company’s announcement on the FDA.gov website. However, the FDA makes it clear that it does not endorse the company or its products.
Negative Effects Of Lead In The Body
If customers would have consumed the Kore Organic Watermelon CBD Oil, it would lead to an excessively high level of lead exposure. The Florida Department of Health warns that ingesting lead would lead to “acute lead poisoning”, which could manifest itself with symptoms including: muscle weakness, pain, paresthesia, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, poor appetite, weight loss, a metallic taste in the mouth, hemolysis, shock, and kidney damage. Luckily, Summit Labs has not received any reports or complaints of side effects from the use of this product.
Summit Labs has taken the necessary measures to reach out to both its customers and distributors by phone, email, and even personal visits to make sure all contaminated products are returned. Furthermore, if any customers, distributors, or retailers are in possession of this product, they are advised to stop using it effective immediately.
Consumers who still possess this product are advised to contact Summit Labs by phone or email and should return the product back to its place of purchase for a full refund. If consumers do experience any adverse effects after consuming this product, they are advised to seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
For anyone who experiences adverse effects as the result of consuming this product are advised to report it to the FDA”s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program via online, mail, or fax.
Warning Over COVID-19 False Claims
Meanwhile, the FDA has issued a letter to AgroTerra, which trades as Patriot Hemp Company, warning them to cease and desist the sale of their products in which they make the claim that it could cure the COVID-19 virus.
The FDA letter states:
“We request that you take immediate action to cease the sale of such unapproved and unauthorized products for the mitigation, prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of COVID-19.”
In the meantime, the FDA has added AgroTerra to a list of companies to watch for “unsubstantiated COVID-19 claims”. This would be updated once the company takes the necessary action and corrects both its website and all promotional efforts.
Legal And Responsible Selling
The FDA states that it is the responsibility of companies to ensure the products they sell do not violate the FD&C Act. They are also advised to review their websites, labels on their products, and their promotional materials to make sure they are not misleading the public by making claims that the products they sell are safe and effective for curing COVID-19, which have not received approval by the FDA.