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🍎 Food BE BG FR January 30, 2023

pyrrolizidine alkaloids in ginkgo biloba extract

Classification
Information notification for follow-up
Risk
Potential risk
Category
dietetic foods, food supplements and fortified foods
Hazard
pyrrolizidine alkaloids - {natural toxins (other)}
Origin
France
Notifier
Belgium
🗄
Archived (older alert)
This alert was reported 1216 days ago and has been moved from our active feed to the archive. The original safety information still applies — we have no confirmation from the issuing agency that the product is safe again. Refer to the official notice for the current status.
📈 Timeline
0 days in total
May 17, 2026 May 17, 2026
Daily snapshot data starts accumulating once the scheduler runs — for now this is interpolated from the agency's first/last dates.

What is this? Ginkgo biloba extract is a plant product sold as a food supplement. It may contain small amounts of natural toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

What's happening? Some batches of ginkgo biloba supplements in Belgium, Bulgaria, and France were found to have these toxins. The products are being checked.

Does this affect me? If you take ginkgo biloba supplements in these countries, you might be affected. Stop using them until you check.

What should I do? Ask your pharmacist or doctor before using any ginkgo biloba supplements. They can help you find a safe choice.

🤖 This plain-language summary is automatically generated from the official agency notice using AI. It is for general information only — not medical advice. For decisions about your health, always consult a pharmacist or doctor and read the official source linked below.

🔬 Medical / technical details (for professionals)
Agency-published detail

Classification: Information notification for follow-up · Risk: Potential risk · Category: dietetic foods, food supplements and fortified foods · Hazard: pyrrolizidine alkaloids - {natural toxins (other)} · Origin: France · Notifier: Belgium

First published
January 30, 2023
Last refreshed by us
1 week ago
Severity (as classified)
Low
Official source
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/search?notificationReference=2023.0696

All information on this page comes from the official agency notice. We translate and summarise it; we don't add or edit facts.

Related alerts

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is this product recall alert about?
pyrrolizidine alkaloids in ginkgo biloba extract. Classification: Information notification for follow-up · Risk: Potential risk · Category: dietetic foods, food supplements and fortified foods · Hazard: pyrrolizidine alkaloids - {natural toxins (other)} · Origin: France · Notifier: Belgium
When was this alert issued?
This alert was issued on January 30, 2023 by EU RASFF.
Which countries are affected?
The alert applies to the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, and France.
How serious is this alert?
Low risk. A low risk means harm is unlikely under normal use. The alert is informational but still worth reading.
What should I do?
If you have this product at home, stop using it and return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Keep the receipt if you have one — most retailers refund without it for safety recalls.
Where can I find the official notice?
The full official notice is published on webgate.ec.europa.eu.

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⚠️ We aggregate official notices. We do not give medical advice. For medical or legal decisions, consult the source agency and a qualified professional.