Below is a product re-call issue, please read on as it pertains to a product you purchased from me. 

I have been informed that a supplier I have purchased from has been found out to be a rogue bussiness. A company called Liquid essences that I bought organic food grade ethanol from has been investigated by Norfolk trading standards and this product has been called into question. This company appeared to be manufacturing in Norfolk, UK, but are most likely operating outside of the UK and not maintaining UK standards of manufacturing. 

At this stage, I have not been contacted directly by any government officials to know more information, only via my herbalist governing body. Unfortunately this product has been used by herbalists around the UK, so we will have to wait to see how this unfolds.

I have been following all the other guidelines advised, I have contacted trading standards directly and will continue to follow protocol in this product re-call issue. 

So the protocol I have been advised to follow is to request that all of the products that contain this ethanol be thrown away, poured down the sink and not consumed anymore. 

This issue affects 4 of my products:

Love drops (not love potion)

Winter tonic #2

Elderberry and thyme glycerite

Velvet tonic

Please respect this suggested protocol and pour away the products listed above. 

Either rinse out and re-use the bottles for your own potions or recycle them. 

If your sacred seeds order is out of date and past it's BBE then obviously please throw away as well. 

I am aware that product re-call comes up from time to time across the food business. As herbalists we have been trained to keep rigid notes in case of issues of adulteration and issues such as this. 

Curiously, at present this ethanol product from liquid essences is still available to purchase online for the general public, we will have to watch this space for how this issue unfolds. 

For now it is important for me to act on the advice I have been given at present, no matter the outcome that brings. 

I want to mention that I have personally been consuming this ethanol product (in it’s heavily diluted form) myself on a regular basis over a period of years, to no ill effect. I take my own tinctures daily and I also take much larger doses than I recommend to others, again with no obvious ill effect. 

Also no one has reported to me any negative reactions to any of my products at all. Nor have I heard of any other herbalists having any negative reaction t this product.

Ethanol is of course heavily diluted to safe consumer amounts in my products. 

I am deeply sorry for this issue. I could not have foreseen it coming and am doing my best to make amends in a responsible manner. 

I know a lot of my customers rely on these tonics for herbal support and I am so utterly heart broken that it has come to this situation. 

If you would like me to signpost you to other similar herbal products available please reply with this request. 

I never imagined that I would necessarily be dealing with this myself but here we are. 

It is ofcourse a devastating situation for me as a small business and with no doubt knock on effects to my reputation as well, I am uncertain at this time what the future holds. Right now, it’s just about making things right and coming out the other side. 

I have taken all products off my shop while I take stock and focus on dealing with this issue.

Refunds

If you require a refund for this, please email me at alice@sacredseeds.org.uk to request this. Ideally with your order number, or where you purchased it and on what date.

Refunds may take some time to process.

I appreciate your cooperation and understanding with this matter

Sincerely

Alice Betony