Two pharmacies recalled contaminated supplement in August
Fire and medical officials have warned wildland crews about glutathione, a compound administered to firefighters through IV drips or nebulizers after exposure to toxic chemicals from major Western fires. The substance has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and experts say it has not been proven safe or effective.
The International Association of Firefighters, a labor union representing approximately 360,000 first responders, issued a safety advisory last week.
“Because glutathione is not an FDA-approved drug, consumers should be cautious about product safety and claims that glutathione can treat or prevent diseases,” the IAFF said in the advisory.
The advisory comes alongside at least two August recalls of glutathione by pharmacies. The recalls followed lab testing that identified bacterial contamination in the product at those facilities. One of the recalling pharmacies told regulators it had received reports that recipients had experienced fever, chills, severe headache and other symptoms.
Fire and medical officials warned that contamination introduced during production could expose firefighters to illness — a concern for crews already dealing with toxic-smoke exposure.
The compound has been offered to Western wildland firefighters exposed to toxic chemicals while battling some of the country’s biggest blazes, the advisory said. The IAFF advisory covers glutathione administered both through IV and through nebulizer and urges caution about any product safety or disease-treatment claims made for the unapproved substance.
Glutathione is not an FDA-approved drug and has not been proven safe or effective, the advisory said. Officials have flagged that absence of approval — together with the contamination recalls — as a central concern for wildland crews receiving the supplement.