Bought NuNaturals Sweetener? FDA Says These Bottles May Be Dangerous—What to Do
A popular sugar substitute sold nationwide just got recalled—here’s what to do if you bought it
Consumers of zero-sugar sweeteners beware: a packaging mix-up has led to a major recall of a popular sugar alternative nationwide. On July 14, NuNaturals Inc., a family-owned company known for its zero-sugar sweeteners, baking goods, collagen powders and other natural foods, issued a voluntary recall for certain Organic Monk Fruit and Stevia sweeteners they distribute. On August 1, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class II warning for the recall. Here, everything we know, the specific products that were affected and what this recall means.
What products are part of this recall?
Part of this recall is 78 bottles of Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener and 78 bottles of Organic Pure Stevia. As a result of mislabeling, the monk fruit bottles are said to contain stevia, while the stevia bottles are said to contain monk fruit. The UPC for the Monk Fruit bottles is 7 39223 00187 6, with a lot number of 25104S. As for the stevia, those bottles have a UPC of 7 39223 00204 0, with a lot number of 25104S.
The recall, which is currently ongoing, includes products that were distributed to retailers across the nation. Those who may be affected by this packaging mix-up include those with allergies or sensitivities to stevia and monk fruit. According to the FDA website, a Class II recall refers to “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Where does stevia and monk fruit come from?
According to the NuNaturals website, monk fruit, or luo han guo, “is washed, crushed, and extracted with water three times. Macro porous resins and food grade alcohol are then used throughout the process. Finally, it is spray dried and checked for quality.” Similarly, stevia starts with the stevia plant, from which the liquid is extracted from the plant using food-grade alcohol or natural enzymes. “It is then filtered with natural resins to remove the bitter parts of the extract,” says the NuNaturals site, further explaining that it is then spray dried.
According to the FDA site, both the stevia product andthe monk fruit products are packaged in a plastic bottle with a white cap. Details also indicate that for both products, the instructions for use are essentially the same. A pinch is all that’s needed, as “1/64 tsp tastes as sweet as 1 tsp of sugar.”
All about NuNaturals
NuNaturals’ origin story starts with Warren Sablosky, a vegetarian from Pennsylvania who found a community of like-minded individuals when he moved to Eugene, Oregon. Warren had started out his journey by making his own tofu when it wasn’t available to him in Pennsylvania, and once he moved out to Oregon and met his wife, Paula, the two combined their passion for natural foods. Small businesses like all-natural ice pops and soy french fries ultimately led to the creation of NuNaturals, which now sells a wide array of products not limited to artificial sweeteners.
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