A major recall is underway for multivitamins sold online, prompted by a serious safety issue that could result in lethal poisoning. 

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for around 4,700 bottles of Blueroot Health’s Bariatric Fusion iron multivitamins sold on Amazon due to non-compliance with federal child-resistant packaging standards.

The primary concern, as highlighted by the CPSC, lies in the cap design. These caps lack the essential embossed lettering that indicates the ‘push down and turn’ mechanism and have smooth tops instead of the required textured surfaces, posing a significant poisoning hazard if ingested by small children.

The packaging is therefore non-compliant with federal regulations set by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act.

Established over fifty years ago, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) mandates that various products must have child-resistant packaging to prevent young children, particularly those under five, from accidental ingestion.

No incidents or injuries have been reported to date.

The recalled vitamins contain 45 milligrams of iron per dose, surpassing the safe upper limit for children by approximately five milligrams. As iron supplements are regulated substances, they must legally be packaged in child-resistant containers.

Accidental ingestion of iron can lead to a critical medical situation for children. Even a minimal intake of these potent iron pills can cause severe gastrointestinal damage, leading to symptoms such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, shock, organ damage, and potentially death.

Blueroot Health’s iron multivitamins are being recalled due to their failure to include child-resistant packaging, as announced by the CPSC, covering 4,700 units sold on Amazon (illustrative image).

The recalled products are Bariatric Fusion High ADEK capsules (in 90- and 270-count bottles) and One Per Day bariatric multivitamin capsules (90-count), all of which contain 45 mg of iron.

Sold for $23 to $57 between January and June 2024, they were available on Amazon, the company’s own website, and other online retailers.

Consumers who purchased the affected bottles are instructed to immediately secure them out of sight and reach of children and contact Blueroot Health for a free child-resistant replacement cap that fulfills PPPA requirements.

The PPPA of 1970 is a pivotal piece of consumer safety legislation designed to protect young children from accidentally ingesting harmful substances. 

Administered and enforced by the CPSC, the law specifically mandates that a wide range of hazardous products must be sold in ‘child-resistant’ packaging.

Packaging must be significantly difficult for most children under the age of five to open within a reasonable time, while remaining readily accessible to adults without posing undue effort.

CPSC officials identified the cap’s design as the main flaw, noting the lack of required ‘push down & turn’ lettering and its smooth top, which creates a serious poisoning risk for children

The law covers most prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as dietary supplements containing iron and many common household chemicals.

The law has been highly successful, credited with preventing hundreds of child poisonings and deaths since its enactment.

Since the law was enacted, the annual number of poison-related deaths among children has plummeted, falling from 216 in 1972 to a recent average of just 31 per year.

Accidental iron poisoning in children is a particularly severe and fast-acting medical emergency that can lead to catastrophic multi-organ failure and death.

When a child takes a handful of pills containing an adult dose, iron can rapidly attack the gastrointestinal tract, causing direct tissue damage. 

Sold for $23 to $57 between January and June 2024, the vitamins were available on Amazon, the company’s own website, and other online retailers

This initial phase can produce violent symptoms, including severe vomiting, often with blood, diarrhea, abdominal pain and lethargy.

If not treated immediately, the iron overwhelms the body’s ability to bind and store it, leading to a cascade of deadly effects, including a dangerous drop in blood pH, shock, liver failure and damage to the heart and nervous system.

A survivor may also face long-term health complications, such as scarring and strictures in the digestive system.