Warning Issued on Poisonous Castor Oil

The Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday that three brands of castor oil distributed in 21 states and the District of Columbia may contain a poisonous liniment.

Two-ounce bottles of castor oil may have been sold under the brand names Rite Aid, Gray Drug Fair and Peoples Drug and may contain spirits of camphor if the label bears the lot number A19A, FDA officials said.

Although castor oil is sold to be swallowed as a laxative, spirits of camphor can result in convulsions, coma, respiratory arrest and death if taken internally, officials said.