Ashwagandha Supplement Recalled at Whole Foods and Amazon for Salmonella Risk

Whole Foods and Amazon Recall Ashwagandha Supplements Over Salmonella Fears

If you have recently purchased 365 Whole Foods Market Standardized + Full Spectrum Blend Ashwagandha Capsules, you should check your medicine cabinet immediately. Albuquerque-based manufacturer Vitality Works Inc. has issued a recall for one specific lot of the popular stress-relief supplement due to potential salmonella contamination, as confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration.

The recall affects 120-count white plastic bottles from lot number 2025-26227. These bottles were sold at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide and through Amazon between November 24, 2025, and October 20, 2026. While the company and federal regulators emphasize that no illnesses have been reported to date, the potential for contamination was flagged during routine sampling of a retail unit.

Identifying the Affected Product

The stakes for consumers are clear: salmonella is a serious foodborne pathogen that can lead to dehydration, severe abdominal pain, and, in rare cases, systemic infection if the bacteria enters the bloodstream. Individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, young children, and older adults face the highest risk of complications. If you are in possession of a bottle marked with the affected lot number and an expiration date of Nov. 13, 2028, the FDA advises that you should not take the pills.

Whole Foods is offering full refunds to customers who return the product to any store location. For specific inquiries regarding the recall, the manufacturer, Vitality Works Inc., can be reached at (505) 268-9950.

The Challenge of Botanical Contamination

Ashwagandha, a root traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to manage stress and improve sleep quality, is often sourced from regions across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. While the supplement is widely used, the journey from soil to shelf is complex. Salmonella can contaminate plant-based products during the harvesting or drying phases. This bacteria is notoriously resilient, capable of remaining dormant in dried herbs and spices for extended periods, a phenomenon documented in research concerning similar botanical products like ginger.

This recall arrives amid a broader, ongoing series of food safety challenges in the United States. Earlier this year, regulators oversaw recalls involving everything from green superfood supplements to fresh produce and eggs. Approximately 1.35 million Americans suffer from salmonella infections annually, making it one of the most frequent causes of foodborne illness in the country.

The Limits of Routine Sampling

The current situation highlights a recurring tension in the supplement industry: the reliance on routine sampling to catch batch-level issues. While the FDA has confirmed the recall, the agency has not explicitly stated that they found a positive salmonella sample, only that the potential for contamination was identified. This leaves an open question regarding the exact point in the supply chain where the contamination may have occurred, and whether other lots or related products might share the same environmental risk factors.

For now, the focus remains on containment. Consumers are cautioned against taking the product, as the primary goal is ensuring that the potentially tainted capsules do not reach the digestive tract. With no illnesses reported so far, the industry will likely be watching to see if this incident prompts tighter scrutiny of the drying and processing protocols for imported herbal supplements.

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