United States Recalls Ashwagandha Capsules over Salmonella Found in Routine Sampling

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted on October 30, 2026 the recall of one lot of ashwagandha capsules, a dietary supplement made from the root of this plant, due to possible Salmonella contamination. The product is sold in white plastic bottles of 120 capsules, and the recall affects only lot 2025-26227, with an expiration date of October 13, 2028 printed on the bottom of the bottle.

According to the notice, the lot was sold nationwide, in stores and online, between November 24, 2025 and October 20, 2026. The contamination was detected in routine sampling of a single unit collected at retail, and no illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers are asked not to consume the product and to discard it; refunds are handled at the point of purchase.

Powdered botanical supplements are a known matrix for Salmonella: dried roots and leaves can become contaminated in the field or during drying, and the bacterium survives for months in low-moisture products, even though it does not multiply in them. Because capsules are not cooked before consumption, a contaminated ingredient reaches the consumer intact. In 2026 the United States already investigated a Salmonella outbreak linked to moringa supplements. Infection usually causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, and can be severe in children, older adults and immunocompromised people.

For manufacturers of supplements and dried plant ingredients, the case is a reminder of the importance of approving suppliers, applying validated microbial reduction treatments to botanical raw materials and testing each lot before release. TAAG's Specio 1.1 kit detects Salmonella spp. by real-time PCR in food, beverages and surfaces. The association is indirect because botanical supplements are not among the industries on its datasheet, and presumptive results must be confirmed with the reference method.