What This Means for You
- Firefighters: More than 40,000 firefighters have enrolled in a national cancer registry studying job-related cancer risks; enrollment remains open nationwide.
- Consumers: Certain lots of Rosabella brand moringa powder capsules are linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak and have been recalled.
- Health Risk: The Salmonella strain involved is extensively drug-resistant, meaning common antibiotics may not be effective if treatment is required.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Firefighters across the country are contributing to what federal officials describe as the largest occupational cancer study in the nation, while health authorities are simultaneously warning consumers about a multistate outbreak of drug-resistant Salmonella tied to a dietary supplement sold online.
On February 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that more than 40,000 firefighters have joined the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, an initiative led by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. With that level of participation, the registry is now the largest firefighter cohort in the United States dedicated to studying occupational cancer risks.
The registry collects detailed work history information from participating firefighters and links it with state cancer registry data. By analyzing exposure histories and cancer outcomes, researchers aim to better understand how firefighting-related exposures contribute to cancer risk and to guide prevention strategies within the fire service.
In the course of their duties, firefighters are exposed to smoke, combustion byproducts, and toxic chemicals released during fires and hazardous material incidents. Research has shown that these exposures can increase the risk of certain cancers.
“This milestone represents more than just numbers. It demonstrates the fire service’s unwavering commitment to understanding and reducing work-related cancer,” said Kenny Fent, Ph.D., Certified Industrial Hygienist and team lead for the National Firefighter Registry.
Enrollment is voluntary and open to all U.S. firefighters — career and volunteer, active and retired, with or without a cancer diagnosis, and across all specialties. More information about the registry is available at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry.html, and firefighters may enroll directly at https://nfr.cdc.gov/.
Three days later, on February 13, the CDC issued an investigation notice regarding a separate public health concern: a multistate outbreak of extensively drug-resistant Salmonella infections linked to certain lots of Rosabella brand moringa powder capsules. The investigation remains open, and the full notice is posted at https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/moringacapsules-02-26/index.html.
According to the CDC, seven people across seven states have been infected with the same strain of Salmonella. Three individuals have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps beginning six hours to six days after exposure. Most people recover within four to seven days without treatment. However, some cases can become severe enough to require hospitalization, particularly among children younger than five, adults 65 and older, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
The strain identified in this outbreak is described as extensively drug-resistant. That designation means the bacteria are resistant to many commonly recommended antibiotics. If antibiotic treatment is required, healthcare providers may need to use alternative medications based on resistance testing.
The outbreak has been linked to certain lots of Rosabella brand moringa powder capsules distributed by Ambrosia Brands LLC. The affected products were sold in white plastic bottles with green labels and include 52 lot codes with expiration dates in 2027. Lot codes are printed on the bottom of the bottles.
The capsules were distributed nationwide, primarily through online platforms including the company’s website at tryrosabella.com, as well as Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shein, and eBay.
Ambrosia Brands LLC agreed to recall the identified lots. However, as of the CDC’s February 13 notice, no broader recall had been announced beyond the specified lots, and federal and state public health officials, along with the Food and Drug Administration, continue working to determine whether additional products may be contributing to illnesses.
Consumers who purchased the affected capsules are advised not to consume them. The CDC recommends throwing the product away or returning it to the place of purchase. Surfaces and items that may have come into contact with the capsules should be washed using hot, soapy water or cleaned in a dishwasher.
Businesses are instructed not to sell or serve the affected capsules and to wash and sanitize any surfaces that may have been exposed.
The CDC emphasized that this outbreak is separate from a previous Salmonella outbreak linked to supplements containing moringa leaf powder that was updated in January.
Federal health officials continue to monitor both the firefighter registry enrollment effort and the Salmonella investigation, encouraging participation in the registry and vigilance among consumers regarding recalled products.