A Trusted Fiber Supplement Was Recalled in 41 States, Totaling Over 250,000 Bottles: FDA

Need to boost your fiber intake? It’s often ideal to fill up your plate with fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes. But if that’s not so simple, the Cleveland Clinic is one medical source that notes psyllium husk—a type of soluble fiber that can be taken in supplement form—can also come with ample health benefits, including better digestive health, steadier blood sugar, lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, and more. 

However, over the weekend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that 21,428 cases of Procter & Gamble Metamucil Psyllium Fiber Capsules—each containing 12 units per case for a total of 257,136 bottles—have been under an ongoing recall since February 2024. The products were distributed across 41 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The fiber supplements, sold in 100-count and 160-count containers, were removed from the market for what the FDA refers to as “illegible labels.” According to an industry guidance pamphlet co-authored by the FDA, U.S. Health and Human Services, and other government health agencies, there are several reasons that a product might be flagged for labelling illegibility—from that document:

• Key information, such as the product name(s), dosage form(s), and strength(s), is missing, is expressed in a confusing manner, or is not prominently located and displayed. 
• Key information does not appear in the same field of vision (i.e., the information is not readable without having to turn or rotate the container). 
• Container labels and carton labeling look similar across multiple strengths of the same product or across multiple products within a company’s product line. 
• Container labels and carton labeling look similar among multiple products from different manufacturers. 
• Container labels and carton labeling are visually cluttered by extraneous text or distracting images and graphics. 
• Error-prone abbreviations or symbols are used. 
• Text is difficult to read because of font size or style, insufficient color contrast, or other design elements (e.g., embossing, debossing). 
• Overlapping text is printed on both sides of a clear, transparent, or translucent container label.

Though the recall report doesn’t specify which error occurred, the FDA identified that the issues warranted a Class II assignment, which they define as “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

The FDA notes the products expire in 2026, meaning consumers should keep an eye out for the compromised products, which bear the following information:

100-Count Bottles:

• Lot Codes: 31661725G1, 32151725G1, 324211725G1, 32481725G1, 32611725G1, 32901725G1, 33131725G1, 33311725G1, 33411725G1, 33451725G1 
• Product Number: 80374550 
• Case UPC: 10037000405143 
• Item UPC: 037000405146 
• Expiration Dates: 05/31/2026, 06/30/2026, 07/31/2026, 08/31/2026, 09/30/2026, 10/31/2026 

160-Count Bottles: 

• Lot Codes: 31651725G2, 32171725G1, 32211725G1, 32411725G1, 32581725G, 32771725G1, 32911725G3, 32961725G1, 33171725G1, 33251725G2, 33451725G2 
• Product Number: 80374554 
• Case UPC: 10037000405112 
• Item UPC: 037000405115 
• Expiration Dates: 05/30/2026, 06/30/2026, 08/31/2026, 09/30/2026, 10/31/2026

The Procter & Gamble Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. If you believe you may be in possession of the affected supplements, it may be advisable not to consume them. 

For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:

• Can Too Much Fiber Cause Constipation? A Cleveland Clinic Expert Responds
• 6 Best Ways To Restore Your Gut Health After an Antibiotic, from Expert Doctors
• 8 Signs You Have a Healthy Gut, According to a Gastroenterologist
• 10 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Start Eating More Fiber