Bladder Supplement Recalled Nationwide for Potential E. Coli Contamination

The bottles were sold to customers online through Amazon and Walmart online platforms.

An image of the MyBladder supplement bottle from Purity Products. Courtesy of the FDA

New York-based Purity Products is recalling one lot of its MyBladder dietary supplement due to the risk of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial contamination, the company said in an announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Oct. 28.

The product, packaged in a white bottle with a white cap, carries the lot number 03042517. MyBladder was distributed to customers across the United States via Walmart and Amazon websites.

A routine test showed two specific strains of E. coli in the recalled lot—O7:K1 and 1303.

“These strains are not permitted in dietary supplements under current regulatory standards. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary change in suppliers,” the company said.

“The presence of these E. coli strains may pose a risk for gastrointestinal or other infections, particularly in vulnerable individuals such as neonates [newborns], young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. The recall is being conducted as a precaution to protect all consumers and uphold product safety.”

The company asked consumers to “immediately discontinue” the use of the affected products.

Customers can return the items to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard them, it said, while advising people who experience unexpected side effects after using the product to get in touch with their health care provider.

Individuals with queries can contact the company at [phone].

The Epoch Times reached out to Purity Products for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

According to a May 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most E. coli bacteria are harmless and part of a healthy intestinal tract. They help humans digest food and protect them from harmful germs.

However, some E. coli variants make people sick, causing pneumonia, diarrhea, sepsis, urinary tract infection, and other illnesses.

People at higher risk of E. coli infection include children younger than 5 years, individuals with a weakened immune system, and adults aged 65 and above, according to the CDC.

“Building a strong immune system takes time. That’s why children younger than 5 are at increased risk for infection. It’s also why they’re more likely to get seriously ill or develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS),” the agency said.

“As people age, they are more likely to have factors that can put them at increased risk for infection. These factors can include the immune system not being as strong, using certain medicines, and having less stomach acid. Adults who are 60 or older are also more likely to get seriously ill or develop HUS.”

Symptoms of E. coli infection depend on the variant that caused the infection. Most infected people have stomach cramps, which could be severe, or diarrhea that can be watery or bloody. Some individuals may also have a low fever and suffer from vomiting.

The CDC advised people with diarrhea or who have been vomiting for more than two days, carrying a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, displaying signs of dehydration, or having bloody urine or stools to talk to their doctors.

Several products have been recalled over the past year due to concerns about E. coli contamination.

This week, the FDA published an announcement from Washington-based Twin Sisters Creamery recalling various cheese products made from raw and unpasteurized milk, citing potential contamination by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and E. coli O103.

In December last year, 4Earth Farms in Commerce, California, withdrew several brands of vegetable products, citing E. coli contamination risk.

According to a Feb. 13 report from the Public Interest Research Group, more Americans got sick from contaminated food outbreaks in 2024 than in 2023.

Of the nearly 1,400 individuals who got sick last year from recalled food, 98 percent were from 13 outbreaks.

“All but one of the 13 outbreaks involved Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli,” the report said. “The number of recalls because of Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli increased significantly in 2024 and comprised 39 percent of all recalls.”