A Popular Diet Pill Contains a Poisonous Plant, Researchers Found
- Nine of 10 products tested were a poisonous plant, study says
- Instead of Tejocote Root, pills contained yellow oleander
The diet industry has long peddled unproven pills, supplements and foods to Americans looking for a quick way to shed pounds.
Photographer: Oleksandra Troian/Getty ImagesA poisonous and sometimes deadly yellow plant is increasingly being found in diet pills and health foods, a concerning trend as Americans seek out unregulated alternatives to popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Testing at a lab in Oregon revealed that nine out of 10 products labeled as Tejocote Root were actually a plant called yellow oleander that is toxic to humans, according to findings published Thursday in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Tejocote Root is a weight loss supplement widely regarded as bogus by experts that is nonetheless commonly found on pharmacy shelves and sold by popular online retailers.