It’s a tough pill to swallow.
A popular supplement touted to help reduce stress and improve sleep is being recalled due to concerns about salmonella contamination.
Infection with this bacteria is particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. It can cause dangerous levels of dehydration or enter the bloodstream and infect tissues around the body.
The recalled supplements are ashwagandha pills, sold at Whole Foods and on Amazon.
The manufacturer, Vitality Works Inc. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is recalling one lot (#2025-26227) of its 365-count Standardized Ashwagandha Capsules + Full Spectrum Blend for Whole Foods Market.
There are 120 bottles of them and sold in white plastic bottles. You can check the batch number and the expiration date of 10/13/2028, both printed on the bottom of the bottle.
They were available for purchase from November 24, 2025 to October 20, 2026 nationwide.
If you have it, don’t take it, throw it away, and don’t return it to the store. Refunds are available at any Whole Foods Market store, the FDA said. Those with questions can contact Vitality Works Inc. at (505) 268-9950.
No illnesses have been reported to date. The potential contamination was identified through routine sampling of a single retail unit, the FDA said. They did not explicitly state that they found a positive Salmonella sample.
Salmonella and ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a plant found in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its roots are dried and powdered for a number of traditional practices, including Ayurvedic medicine.
Some research shows that it can help reduce stress, anxiety, and improve the quality and total duration of sleep.
Salmonella can contaminate plants like Ashwagandha before harvest or during processing, and can remain dormant for months or even years, causing infection when swallowed.
This is a major problem for food manufacturers because salmonella has been shown to survive drying in spices and herbs like ginger.
When a person consumes something contaminated with salmonella, it multiplies in the small intestine, triggering an immune response that can cause cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
With lots of vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration can become serious. The infection can also tear or cause bleeding in the digestive tract. If the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can be life-threatening – infecting the brain and spinal cord, heart, bones and urinary tract.
Treatment will often address the dangers of dehydration with intravenous fluids, antidiarrheal medications like Imodium, and antibiotics, although most recover without them.
Salmonella infects approximately 1.35 million people each year in the United States and is a leading cause of foodborne illness. This ashwagandha recall is just one of several recalls occurring this year related to salmonella.
In August, Sinaloa’s jalapeños and fresh produce prompted the recall of salsas, pico de gallo and other products from Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and HEB.
In July, more than 1.5 million packages of a dozen eggs were recalled. Earlier this year, a super green supplement was recalled due to possible salmonella contamination.
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