kailinpharmacist

By Lin Kai, Licensed Pharmacist — 17 years hospital pharmacy experience

The “Healthy” Powder in Your Cupboard

If you follow wellness content at all, you’ve seen the ads: a scoop of green powder, a glass of water, and suddenly you’re getting “your daily vegetables in one glass.” Moringa. Wheatgrass. Spirulina. Kale. They sound like nature’s multivitamin.

Here’s what the marketing doesn’t tell you: these products are rarely heat-sterilized. They’re made from raw plants that are dried and milled into powder — and if any step in that chain slips, bacteria can survive all the way to your cup.

What Happened

On August 7, 2026, the U.S. FDA posted a recall notice from Lexunder Inc. (doing business as Food To Live, Brooklyn, NY) for nine green powder products: Organic SuperGreens Mix, Moringa Leaf Powder, Kale Powder, Wheatgrass Powder, Spirulina Powder, Algae Powder Mix, SuperGrass Powder, and more.

The trigger: FDA testing at retail found Salmonella in a sample of the Organic SuperGreens Mix (8 oz, lot SO-77820). The company has suspended production and distribution while the source is investigated. No illnesses have been reported so far — but the recall is nationwide, and the products were sold online through foodtolive.com, foodinbulk.com, and other marketplaces.

Affected lot codes run from SO-72558 through SO-79374 (or codes VFD/ORG/MORP/B/25, C25051312, OSP251001).

Why This Isn’t a One-Off

Here’s the part that matters for anyone who takes supplements: this is the second green-powder recall for Salmonella in six months.

In January 2026, Live It Up Super Greens was recalled after 45 people in 21 states were sickened and 12 hospitalized at the time — the final outbreak count reached 131 people across 38 states. Same product category, same bacteria, same route to the consumer: powder that you mix with water and drink raw.

Two recalls in half a year is a pattern, not bad luck. It’s a reminder that:

• “Natural” is not a food-safety claim. A plant grown in soil carries soil microbes. Drying and milling don’t automatically kill them.
• Powder formats bypass cooking. Unlike vegetables you wash and cook, green powders go straight into a glass of water. There’s no safety net.
• Regulators are watching. The FDA has tightened import oversight for dietary supplements and expanded surveillance testing. More product safety announcements may follow.

What a Pharmacist Would Do

If you (or a family member) bought any Food To Live green powder products:

• **Check the lot code.** It’s printed on the back, below the Nutrition Facts panel. If it falls in the affected range, stop using it today.
• **Don’t “finish the bag.”** Toss it or return it for a refund. Salmonella can survive on dry surfaces for weeks — wash any cups, blenders, or counters the powder touched with hot, soapy water.
• **Be extra careful for the vulnerable.** Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and anyone immunocompromised face the highest risk of severe Salmonella illness.

And before the next purchase: look for brands that test their finished product for pathogens and publish the results. It’s the cheapest insurance you can buy in the supplement aisle.

Bottom line: Green powders can be a convenient way to add plants to your diet — but they are not sterile, and the label “natural” doesn’t change that. In 2026, checking recall notices is part of smart supplement shopping.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your health.

Sources

1. U.S. FDA. Lexunder Inc Recalls Food To Live Brand Green Powder Products Because of Possible Health Risk, Aug 7, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lexunder-inc-recalls-food-live-brand-green-powder-products-because-possible-health-risk

2. U.S. CDC & FDA. Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Moringa Leaf Powder (January 2026). https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-dietary-supplement-january-2026