Poland recalls Herbapol nettle tea batch L 0036 over elevated pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels

Product details and inspection findings

Poland's Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny) issued a nationwide public health warning concerning a batch of nettle herbal tea. Routine laboratory analyses carried out during official checks by the State Sanitary Inspection (Państwowa Inspekcja Sanitarna) revealed an excessive concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in tested samples. The chemical levels detected in the tea exceed the maximum limits permitted under food safety standards, prompting immediate regulatory intervention. The alert applies to the herbal infusion marketed as Pokrzywa, part of the Zielnik Polski brand packaged in boxes of 20 tea bags. The recalled merchandise carries the production batch number L 0036 and specifies a minimum durability date of January 2028 (01.2028). The tea was manufactured by Herbapol-Lublin SA, located at ul. Diamentowa 25, 20-471 Lublin.

Chemical contamination and liver toxicity

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are organic chemical substances naturally produced by various wild plant species to defend themselves against herbivores. When unwanted weeds grow alongside agricultural crops, they can inadvertently contaminate harvested herbs during gathering and processing. Ingesting these compounds in large quantities or across prolonged periods generates toxic effects in the human body, targeting liver function in particular. Following the laboratory confirmation of excessive alkaloid levels, toxicologists and public health specialists conducted an official risk assessment. Experts at the National Institute of Public Health NIH (National Research Institute) concluded that consuming the contaminated batch presents a direct threat to consumer wellbeing.

According to the risk assessment prepared by experts from the National Institute of Public Health NIH - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, consumption of the product with the specified batch number may pose a significant risk to consumer health.

Regulatory response and supplier actions

Upon receiving the official notification regarding the elevated alkaloid levels, company management at Herbapol-Lublin SA decided to withdraw the designated batch from the market to protect consumer safety. The manufacturer immediately informed its commercial clients, distribution hubs, and retail stockists, ordering them to halt sales and remove the product from retail shelves. Official food control authorities are actively supervising each step of the product recall to guarantee that the affected packages are isolated from the retail market. In parallel with the store removals, the State Sanitary Inspection and the manufacturer opened joint explanatory proceedings to trace the source of the weed contamination in the agricultural supply chain and review quality control protocols.

Consumer advice and disposal instructions

The sanitary authorities released explicit recommendations for the public, warning consumers against using the affected herbal tea. Anyone who purchased the Zielnik Polski nettle tea is advised to inspect the packaging details, specifically looking for batch number L 0036 and the January 2028 expiry date. The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate issued a clear directive instructing consumers not to consume the specified herbal product under any circumstances. Customers in possession of the recalled tea bags are requested to return the items to their point of purchase or destroy them immediately. Sanitary officials confirmed that oversight of retail outlets will continue until the entire batch is accounted for.