US Marshals seize ephedrine-containing raw materials for supplements

Marshals allegedly seized over 4,000 lbs of raw material – Cissus quadrangularis​ and Cassia angustifolia​ extracts – containing the ephedrine alkaloids in Rancho Dominguez, CA. The materials had been imported by Infinity Marketing Group, Inc, said the FDA.

Chemical analysis by FDA confirmed the presence of these alkaloids in the shipment. However, none of the labels on the shipping drums indicated the presence of ephedrine alkaloids, according an FDA press release issued yesterday.

“Working in close coordination with our federal colleagues in U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FDA helped identify and remove these potentially dangerous products from the marketplace,” ​said Dara A. Corrigan, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.

“We will continue to take enforcement action that prevents potentially harmful products from reaching consumers and endangering their health.”​

Infiniti Marketing Group with an 'i' is NOT connected to this seizure​

However, Infiniti Marketing Group, Inc, which is based in Laguna Niguel, CA, is not connected to the case in any way and has not had any products seized, managing director Rick Zielomski told NutraIngredients-USA.

"We have been getting calls from customers about this and we have no idea what this is about. We are Infiniti Marketing Group, Inc., with an i not a y. We are not located in Rancho Dominguez, CA, nor do we warehouse there." ​

He added: "We have not imported any goods for over a year now from any foreign county, especially Cissus quadrangularis and Cassia angustifolia extracts – containing the ephedrine alkaloids."​

Ephedrine alkaloids​

Ephedrine alkaloids are adrenaline-like stimulants that can have potentially dangerous effects on the heart.

Ephedra, a once-popular herbal marketed for weight loss and sports performance, was banned by the US Food and Drug Association (FDA) in 2004

An FDA ruling in 2004 banned the use of the ingredient in dietary supplement products on the grounds that it does not present a significant health benefit to outweigh the reported increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

Additional information was from the FDA regarding the country of origin and the next steps in the process could not be provided due to the investigation being on-going, a spokesperson for the agency told NutraIngredients-USA.com.