The “Moo-Cow Serenade” is like
Vi-Jon’s Magnesium Citrate Recall
By Carol Jean Delmar
Opera Theater Ink
The “Moo—Cow Serenade”
is being composed right now by me at the same time I am writing this opinion piece on the magnesium citrate solution recall by Vi-Jon, for the Vi-Jon company is actually the lone cow.
Vi-Jon LLC has recalled thousands of bottles of magnesium citrate saline solution throughout the world. Yet only three instances of bacterial contamination from gluconacetobacter liquefaciens have been reported to date, but the company has declared a voluntary recall of all flavors and most lot numbers, to show its consumer concern and advocacy. The recall began more than a month ago with expanded lot numbers and flavors added—and no replacement dates included.
Vi-Jon LLC seems to have a monopoly on the product, as if it were a lone cow with a monopoly on all the milk production in the land, for the company has recalled all the magnesium citrate solution it produces from all the major drug stores and pharmacies it services, where the product has been placed in bottles with brand names featured on the bottles, including CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, as well as Major, Leader, Swan, Equate, Equaline, Good Sense, Kroger, Sunmark, and others, which are distributed to markets and smaller pharmacies throughout the United States, Panama and Canada.
Can you imagine one cow producing so much milk that it is packaged in cartons reading Knudsen’s, Horizon, Organic Valley, Stonyfield, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and more — so that if ONE brand were contaminated, so would they all be?
Those may be hypothetical comparisons, but think about it: Many poor little babies would be deprived of their milk.
Well, that is exactly what Vi-Jon has done with magnesium citrate solution. It is simply not available.
I am a 75-year-old consumer with Parkinson’s Disease. Magnesium Citrate solution was recommended to me by my gastroenterologist five years ago when I was in the hospital. The product is used as a prep before procedures or by taking a reduced amount when necessary. Magnesium is good for muscles, bones and nerves,, and for flexibility.
As a senior citizen taking Carbidopa-Levodopa, to reduce my ongoing motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, the recall has impacted me greatly, but I have not been sick from any contamination.
I have tried to find a substitute brand, but cannot. Most pharmacists have returned the recalled bottles. One actually told me that she would send her remaining bottles back to Vi-Jon rather than risk losing her license by selling them to me. As a consumer, I would rather risk the side-effects of taking the recalled item than risk the challenges of not taking it when indicated, or experimenting with a new product altogether.
So I therefore must ask: Why does one company have a monopoly on the distribution of one product? Especially when it is a simple and inexpensive product like magnesium citrate solution, which could be purchased uncontaminated if produced by more companies?
I have not gotten sick after injesting more than 10 recalled bottles that were in my possession. I “have” had difficulties opening the caps on some of the bottles, however, and have used steaming hot water and knives to screw off the tops. The hot water could have created the contamination, I assume. But then I am not a scientist and do not know the reasons inherent in my dilemma.
I only know that with all of the modern-day drugs and cures and Covid vaccines, I “should” be able to buy something as simple as pure, uncontaminated magnesium citrate solution somewhere. But after calling half the drug stores in Los Angeles County and beyond—I cannot.
The “Moo-Cow Serenade” is like
Vi-Jon’s Magnesium Citrate Recall
By Carol Jean Delmar
Opera Theater Ink
The “Moo—Cow Serenade”
is being composed right now by me at the same time I am writing this opinion piece on the magnesium citrate solution recall by Vi-Jon, for the Vi-Jon company is actually the lone cow.
Vi-Jon LLC has recalled thousands of bottles of magnesium citrate saline solution throughout the world. Yet only three instances of bacterial contamination from gluconacetobacter liquefaciens have been reported to date, but the company has declared a voluntary recall of all flavors and most lot numbers, to show its consumer concern and advocacy. The recall began more than a month ago with expanded lot numbers and flavors added—and no replacement dates included.
Vi-Jon LLC seems to have a monopoly on the product, as if it were a lone cow with a monopoly on all the milk production in the land, for the company has recalled all the magnesium citrate solution it produces from all the major drug stores and pharmacies it services, where the product has been placed in bottles with brand names featured on the bottles, including CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, as well as Major, Leader, Swan, Equate, Equaline, Good Sense, Kroger, Sunmark, and others, which are distributed to markets and smaller pharmacies throughout the United States, Panama and Canada.
Can you imagine one cow producing so much milk that it is packaged in cartons reading Knudsen’s, Horizon, Organic Valley, Stonyfield, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and more — so that if ONE brand were contaminated, so would they all be?
Those may be hypothetical comparisons, but think about it: Many poor little babies would be deprived of their milk.
Well, that is exactly what Vi-Jon has done with magnesium citrate solution. It is simply not available.
I am a 75-year-old consumer with Parkinson’s Disease. Magnesium Citrate solution was recommended to me by my gastroenterologist five years ago when I was in the hospital. The product is used as a prep before procedures or by taking a reduced amount when necessary. Magnesium is good for muscles, bones and nerves,, and for flexibility.
As a senior citizen taking Carbidopa-Levodopa, to reduce my ongoing motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, the recall has impacted me greatly, but I have not been sick from any contamination.
I have tried to find a substitute brand, but cannot. Most pharmacists have returned the recalled bottles. One actually told me that she would send her remaining bottles back to Vi-Jon rather than risk losing her license by selling them to me. As a consumer, I would rather risk the side-effects of taking the recalled item than risk the challenges of not taking it when indicated, or experimenting with a new product altogether.
So I therefore must ask: Why does one company have a monopoly on the distribution of one product? Especially when it is a simple and inexpensive product like magnesium citrate solution, which could be purchased uncontaminated if produced by more companies?
I have not gotten sick after injesting more than 10 recalled bottles that were in my possession. I “have” had difficulties opening the caps on some of the bottles, however, and have used steaming hot water and knives to screw off the tops. The hot water could have created the contamination, I assume. But then I am not a scientist and do not know the reasons inherent in my dilemma.
I only know that with all of the modern-day drugs and cures and Covid vaccines, I “should” be able to buy something as simple as pure, uncontaminated magnesium citrate solution somewhere. But after calling half the drug stores in Los Angeles County and beyond—I cannot.
Posted in Commentary/Opinion, News