Balanced Health recalls StarCaps due to diuretic ingredient

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Balanced Health Products on Wednesday voluntarily recalled its StarCaps Diet System Dietary Supplement, Lot 12/2011 – 84810, because it contains the undeclared prescription diuretic bumetanide. The news vets three National Football League Players who recently tested positive for taking a diuretic and had identified that the StarCaps diet aid was the source of the ingredient.

“I think they should now offer up an apology for those players who have tested positive and then dig into their pockets to pay up for the damage they have done,” said Brian Molloy, the lawyer for New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Jamar Nesbit, one of the players who tested positive for bumetanide, according to a report in USA Today. Nesbit has filed a suit against Balanced Health.

The Associated Press, citing a person close to the case, reported that up to eight players tested positive for the diuretic, including Saints running back Deuce McAllister.

Potential risks associated with the use of bumetanide include serious and significant fluid and electrolyte loss and an elevation in uric acid concentrations.

The company has received no reports of illness associated with this product, the company stated. The recall only applies to Lot 12/2011 – 84810. Balanced Health is in the process of testing other lots and will notify the Food and Drug Administration of its results, as well as, if additional lots are to be recalled.

The recalled lot totaling 1,974 consumer-size bottles were distributed nationwide from August 2008 to Oct. 30, 2008 through retail outlets and online sales. Retailers who carried the product, according to the company’s Web site, included GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and Great Earth Vitamin Stores.