Nzu Morning Sickness Remedy Linked to Health Risks

Texas health officials and the FDA are warning consumers and healthcare professionals that a traditional West African remedy for morning sickness, known as Nzu, has been found to contain high levels of lead and arsenic, which could cause lead poisoning in unborn children and cancer.

On December 23, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued a warning about the safety of Nzu morning sickness remedy, advising all consumers, but particularly pregnant or breastfeeding women, to avoid taking the traditional remedy often used by Nigerian, West African and Asian women to mitigate the effects of morning sickness. Texas health regulators issued the warning after analyzing samples of Nzu from African specialty stores in Dallas and Houston.

Nzu is also known as Calabash chalk, Calabar stone, La Craie, Argile and Mabele. It usually resembles brownish balls (which are sometimes covered in white dust and sold as Salted Nzu), blocks, pellets or powders. It is generally sold loose, with no specific brand name or manufacturer’s information or labeling.

Health officials warned that the high amount of lead and arsenic can cause a number of health problems. High levels of lead can damage the developing brain of an unborn or young child, causing neurological problems, learning disabilities and lowered intelligence, as well as seizures and death in some cases. Arsenic is a carcinogen that can cause lung, bladder and skin cancer and is considered poisonous.

The high levels of lead and arsenic are not unique to Nzu sold in Texas. Nzu has come under fire from health departments in a number of countries due to the lead and arsenic levels. A similar warning was issued by Health Canada in October 2007 and by health officials in the U.K. in 2002. U.K. health officials said that women taking 60g a day of the most contaminated Nzu examined would be exceeding safe daily lead intake by 4.5 times.

Texas officials recommend that anyone who has been taking Nzu should contact their health care provider. Investigators are still trying to determine the source of the Nzu found in Texas.