Summitt Labs' KORE ORGANIC CBD Oil Recalled Nationwide Due to Class I Lead Contamination
Summitt Labs initiated a Class I recall of 236 bottles of KORE ORGANIC CBD Oil Watermelon 15mg nationwide due to elevated lead levels. This event underscores critical chemical contamination risks in nutraceutical supply chains, demanding heightened vigilance from procurement and regulatory teams. The recall, D-1489-2020, highlights the imperative for robust quality control.
FDA Class I Recall: Summitt Labs' Lead Contamination in KORE ORGANIC CBD Oil
Summitt Labs initiated a Class I nationwide recall, identified as D-1489-2020, for 236 bottles of its KORE ORGANIC CBD Oil Watermelon 15mg. This critical action, which commenced on April 15, 2020, was prompted by the discovery of elevated lead levels, constituting significant chemical contamination. The affected product, specifically from Lot# 730, Batch# K018, and bearing an expiration date of August 2020, was distributed in 30 mL dropper bottles with UPC 8 5765000812 8. A Class I classification from the FDA signifies that exposure to the contaminated product could lead to serious adverse health consequences or even death. For procurement directors and regulatory affairs heads, this incident underscores the critical importance of rigorous quality control and testing protocols for all active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished products, particularly within the rapidly expanding nutraceutical and CBD markets. The presence of heavy metals like lead poses significant health risks to consumers and can severely damage brand reputation and market access for manufacturers and distributors alike.
Operational Impact and Distribution Scope for Summitt Labs
The recall initiated by Summitt Labs was a voluntary, firm-initiated action, with initial notification provided to the FDA via telephone. The contaminated KORE ORGANIC CBD Oil was distributed nationwide across the United States, indicating a broad market exposure. Summitt Labs operates from its facility located at 6375 Harney Rd, Suite 106, Tampa, FL 33610-9596. The recall, D-1489-2020, remained active for an extended period, from its initiation on April 15, 2020, until its official termination on January 19, 2022. This termination suggests that the firm successfully addressed the distribution and retrieval of the 236 identified contaminated bottles. For supply chain VPs, this event highlights the operational complexities and substantial costs associated with managing a nationwide Class I recall. Implementing effective recall procedures, including rapid identification of affected lots, establishing efficient communication channels, and executing robust reverse logistics, are paramount to mitigating financial losses and maintaining consumer trust. The ability to swiftly identify and isolate contaminated product batches is a key differentiator in managing such crises and minimizing market disruption.
Broader Industry Implications of Chemical Contamination in Nutraceuticals
The Summitt Labs recall of KORE ORGANIC CBD Oil due to lead contamination serves as a stark reminder of persistent quality challenges within the nutraceutical and dietary supplement sectors. Lead, a known neurotoxin, can accumulate in the human body and cause severe health issues, making its presence in consumer products a critical public health concern. This incident, classified as Class I, emphasizes the urgent need for stringent raw material qualification and comprehensive in-process testing throughout the entire manufacturing supply chain. Business development executives must recognize that such contamination events, while specific to one company, can erode consumer confidence across the entire industry segment, particularly for products like CBD oil that already face heightened regulatory scrutiny. The broader landscape of regulatory actions, including recalls for methanol contamination, undisclosed impurities, and sterility breaches across various companies, collectively signals a pervasive vulnerability to quality lapses. These parallel events, while unrelated to Summitt Labs directly, underscore that robust quality management systems are not merely a compliance requirement but a fundamental business imperative to protect both public health and long-term market viability.