Vega One Nutritional Shakes recall

Vega Issues Voluntary Withdrawal of Vega One Nutritional Shakes and Vega Sport Performance Protein Product

In November, 2013, Vega issued a voluntarily recall of several lots of their Vega One Nutritional Shakes and Sports Performance Protein products due to finding trace amounts of chloramphenicol (CAP). Chloramphenicol is a prescription drug commonly used to treat typhoid fever and eye infections.

Many of our readers have written to us expressing issues that they have had with these products. If you are interested, you can read about these issues in the comment section of the Vega product review article. In that article, we listed alternatives to Vega protein powder.

You can find the entire press release below. If you don’t want to read the entire press release, here is a link to the list of Vega products being recalled and their lot numbers click this link.

In the press release,  Vega indicated that they would offer a refund for anyone who purchased the products that have been recalled. If you have purchased a product from any of the products that have been recalled and wish to return it, please call or email Vega for a full refund: 1-866-839-8863 or www.vegarecall.com.

 

Vega One Nutritional Shakes recall Vega Issues Voluntary Withdrawal of Vega One Nutritional Shakes and Vega Sport Performance Protein Product Due to Traces of the Antibiotic Chloramphenicol Contact

Contact: Consumer: 1-866-839-8863

Media: 1-866-839-8863 x 366

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2013 — Sequel Naturals Inc., dba “Vega,” announced today that it has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily withdrawing a limited quantity of its Vega One Nutritional Shakes and Sports Performance Protein products due to finding trace amounts of chloramphenicol (CAP), a naturally occurring antibiotic.

Chloramphenicol is a prescription drug commonly used to treat typhoid fever and eye infections around the world. It should only be used under medical supervision. It has been associated with rare cases of aplastic anemia and allergic reactions in some people. A leading expert on CAP says that there have been no known cases of anemia caused by residual amounts found in food. Pregnant or lactating women should avoid this medication.

None of the Vega product formulations include CAP as an ingredient; however, an enzyme that was provided by a third party supplier, which constitutes less than 1% of the product ingredients, was found to contain trace amounts of CAP.

As a precautionary measure, Vega is voluntarily withdrawing all of the listed product from the market and has taken steps to ensure all future products are CAP-free, including using a different source of enzymes to prevent further potential contamination and assure consumers of product purity. These actions complete a voluntary product withdrawal and ingredient resourcing that applied to Canadian products as well.

“We’re doing this out of an overabundance of caution and to ensure that when you go to the shelf, you never have to wonder about the purity of a Vega product,” said Charles Chang, Vega President and Founder.

The Vega products were distributed nationwide in retail stores.

People who have severe sensitivity or allergies to chloramphenicol may run the risk of an allergic reaction if they consume these products.  There have been no reported allergic reactions from the listed products.

The following products listed here are being voluntarily withdrawn from sale:

Product Description Size FG Lot Expiry
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 15 oz 47047800 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 15 oz 47043100 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 30 oz 47042000 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 30 oz 47046600 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 1.5 oz 47048500 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 15 oz 47041900 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Berry 15 oz 47047100 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 15.4 oz 47048001 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 15.4 oz 47048000 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 15.4 oz 47043200 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47042403 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47046801 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47042401 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47042402 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47042400 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47046802 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 30.9 oz 47049101 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 1.5 oz 47048600 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 15.4 oz 47047300 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 15.4 oz 47042300 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Chocolate 15.4 oz 47049601 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 13.3 oz 47048200 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 13.3 oz 47048201 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 13.3 oz 47051400 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 13.3 oz 47050600 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 13.3 oz 47046500 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47049300 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47051800 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47042801 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47042800 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47055300 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47047000 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 29.2 oz 47042802 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 1.3 oz 47048700 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 1.3 oz 47052100 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47047500 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47042703 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47042701 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47042700 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47049800 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47055200 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47047501 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47047502 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake French Vanilla 14.6 oz 47042702 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 12.7 oz 47047900 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 12.7 oz 47050300 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 12.7 oz 47043400 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 30.4 oz 47049000 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 30.4 oz 47042200 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 30.4 oz 47046700 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 30.4 oz 47049001 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 15.2 oz 47042100 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 15.2 oz 47047200 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Natural 15.2 oz 47049500 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 14 oz 47043300 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 14 oz 47048101 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 14 oz 47048100 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 14 oz 47050500 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 30.8 oz 47049201 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 30.8 oz 47042602 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 30.8 oz 47042600 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 30.8 oz 47042601 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 30.8 oz 47046900 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 30.8 oz 47049200 08/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 1.4 oz 47051600 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 15.4 oz 47042500 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 15.4 oz 47047400 07/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 15.4 oz 47049700 09/2015
Vega ONE Nutritional Shake Vanilla Chai 15.4 oz 47047401 08/2015
Vega One Starter Kit 7.4 oz 12SE13PP1 05/2015
Vega One Starter Kit 7.4 oz 13SE13PP1 05/2015
Vega One Starter Kit 7.4 oz 16SE13PP1 05/2015
Vega One Starter Kit 7.4 oz 17SE13PP1 12/2014
Vega One Starter Kit 7.4 oz 23OC13PP1 07/2014
Vega One Starter Kit 7.4 oz 24OC13PP1 07/2014
Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate 15.7 oz 47043500 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate 15.7 oz 47048301 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate 15.7 oz 47048300 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate 29 oz 47047600 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate 29 oz 47042900 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Chocolate 29 oz 47047602 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 14.8 oz 47048400 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 14.8 oz 47048401 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47047704 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47047702 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47047705 08/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47047700 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47047701 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47043002 07/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47043001 06/2015
Vega Sport Performance Protein Vanilla 29.2 oz 47050100 08/2015

 

All the product from the lot codes listed are completely safe for the general population. This voluntary withdrawal does not apply to any other lot of Vega product distributed anywhere in Canada or the United States. If you have purchased a product from any of the lot codes below and wish to return it, please call or email Vega for a full refund: 1-866-839-8863 or www.vegarecall.com

 

Here is the list Mayo Clinic’s of the potential side effects of using Chloramphenicol:

Rare

  1. Bloated stomach
  2. drowsiness
  3. gray skin color
  4. low body temperature
  5. uneven breathing
  6. unresponsiveness

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

  1. Pale skin
  2. sore throat and fever
  3. unusual bleeding or bruising
  4. unusual tiredness or weakness (the above side effects may also occur up to weeks or months after you stop taking this medicine)

Rare

  1. Confusion, delirium, or headache
  2. eye pain, blurred vision, or loss of vision
  3. numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
  4. skin rash, fever, or difficulty in breathing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

source: FDA.gov, Mayo Clinic