Fenugreek seeds Medicines under EHEC suspicion

Herbal medicines may be contaminated with EHEC bacteria

07/09/2011

As reported by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) in Berlin, individual batches of medicines and medical devices containing fenugreek seeds from the pharmaceutical trade were recalled. There is an urgent suspicion that individual manufacturer data and batches are contaminated with the dangerous EHEC bacterium.

The drug authorities call since yesterday various drugs from the German market. According to the authorities, there is a suspicion that individual drug batches are contaminated with EHEC bacteria. The German Federal Agency for Drugs and Medical Devices called on the federal state authorities on Friday to immediately withdraw active ingredients and medicines from the pharmacy market that contained fenugreek seeds. Specifically, the recall would include products containing fenugreek seeds that were imported from Egypt to Germany between 2009 and 2011. Fenugreek seeds are mainly contained in mostly naturopathic herbal medicines, which serve to relax the gastrointestinal tract.

Fenugreek: an ancient remedy of naturopathy
Fenugreek has been used for centuries as a means of naturopathy and helps with loss of appetite, boils, abdominal pain, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Ironically, those funds are now contaminated by EHEC germs. Patients usually take the medication several times a day with liquid. Those who still use such a herbal medicine, should refrain from consuming and ask his family doctor or alternative practitioner for an alternative.

Homeopathic remedies and teas not affected by the recall
On Tuesday, the European Union Committee had decided to stop importing sprout seeds, soybeans and oilseeds from Egypt into the EU by the end of October. Who still stores products with fenugreek at home, „should dispose of these with care“, stressed the press spokesman Maik Pommer at a press conference. The Federal authority expressly did not include some remedies of homeopathy in the recall. According to Pommer, the homeopathic remedies are harmless because no bacteria can survive due to the highly concentrated alcohol solution. Are harmless „basically“ also fenugreek medicines when the tea is made with boiling water. In principle, also harmless are wraps for external application. But who wants to play it safe, should also refrain from the last-mentioned medical devices, the spokesman said.

The recall action currently only applies to Germany. According to the agency for health and food security (AGES) the country Austria is not concerned, since there are no means with Fenugreek seeds distributed. However, the seeds are spent in the natural trade and in pharmacies. The use should therefore only happen if the seeds were intensively boiled. This ensures that the EHEC bacteria are killed. (Sb)

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