Beef Iron And Wine Liquid Recalled

PRODUCT: Approximately 2,000 one-pint bottles of "Beef-Iron and Wine" liquid dietary supplement distributed through health food and nutrition stores nationwide from January 1, 1993 through December 1, 1993 by Metro International Distributors, Inc.

PROBLEM: The recalled bottles lack child-resistant packaging. A child could accidentally ingest too much iron at one time, leading to serious illness or death.

WHAT TO DO: Return unused portions of the recalled product to the place of purchase for a replacement bottle with child-resistant packaging or for a full refund. For more information consumers may call Metro International Distributors, Inc. at 1-800-851-2342.

WASHINGTON, DC --- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Metro International Distributors, Inc., Carlstadt, NJ is voluntarily recalling its "Beef-Iron and Wine" liquid dietary supplement. Because of its iron content, Beef-Iron and Wine must be sold in child-resistant packaging to comply with the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The recalled bottles lack child-resistant packaging. A child could accidentally ingest too much iron at one time, leading to serious illness or death.

The recalled Beef-Iron and Wine was sold in brown plastic bottles with white screw-on plastic caps. Each bottle contains 16 fluid ounces (1 pint) of liquid product with 112 milligrams (mg) of iron per the recommended dose of three tablespoons. The bottle is labeled "Beef-Iron and Wine *** Hematinic *** Alcohol 10% by volume *** 16 FL. OZ. (1 PINT)." The label also reads, "DISTRIBUTED BY METRO INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC., 217 Washington Avenue-A, Carlstadt, N.J. 07072."

This recall applies to Beef-Iron and Wine packaged in containers with white conventional screw-on caps. It does not include any other iron-containing products manufactured by Metro International Distributors, Inc.

Approximately 2,000 bottles of the recalled iron product were sold to consumers through retail health food and nutrition stores nationwide between January 1, 1993 and December 1, 1993.

Neither Metro International Distributors, Inc. nor the Commission is aware of any poisoning incidents due to the Beef-Iron and Wine liquid supplement. However, the Commission is aware of several ingestions and at least 25 deaths since 1990 from other iron-containing products, as reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Consumers should immediately return unused portions of any bottles of the recalled Beef-Iron and Wine liquid to the store where purchased. They will receive a replacement bottle with child-resistant packaging or a full refund. Consumers may call Metro International's toll-free number 1- 800-851-2342 for more information.

CPSC became aware of the packaging problem through its ongoing poison prevention packaging inspection program. CPSC enforces the requirement that any dietary supplement containing an equivalent of 250 mg or more of iron per package must have child-resistant packaging.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's mission is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.