Total Body Formula products recalled

WASHINGTON, April 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula" because of possible contamination.

FDA officials say they found hazardous levels of selenium in samples of the dietary supplements after receiving 43 reports of people from nine states who experienced adverse reactions using the products.

The agency issued a warning late last month, advising consumers not to use "Total Body Formula" in tropical orange and peach nectar flavors and "Total Body Mega Formula" in the orange/tangerine flavor after being informed of adverse reactions from users in Florida and Tennessee. Those reactions generally occurred after five to 10 days of daily ingestion of the product, and included significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, deformed fingernails and fatigue -- all symptoms of selenium overdosing, officials said.

Lab testing indicated most samples contained up to 40,800 micrograms per recommended serving -- more than 200 times the amount of selenium indicated on the labels of the products.

Consumers who have been taking the products and have experienced adverse reactions are urged to report the events to the FDA's MedWatch program at 800-332-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm.