Certain brands of “homeopathic” teething products contain belladonna, a toxic chemical, and shouldn’t be used, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said late January. The company that makes Hyland’s homeopathic teething products has refused to recall them so the FDA said it was issuing a warning. “Laboratory analysis found inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance, in certain homeopathic teething tablets, sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label,” the FDA said in a statement. Belladonna is an extract of the deadly nightshade plant. It has hallucinogenic qualities and is toxic in large amounts. “The body’s response to belladonna in children under 2 years of age is unpredictable and puts them at unnecessary risk,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We recommend that parents and caregivers not give these homeopathic teething tablets to children and seek advice from their health care professional for safe alternatives.” Many studies have shown that homeopathic products do not benefit health in the ways they are marketed. The FDA does not approve such products but can work to get dangerous food or drug products of any kind removed from the market. That’s because of a law passed by Congress called DSHEA — the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 that exempts “natural” products, vitamins and supplements from FDA supervision. The FDA also have advice to parents. “Consumers should seek medical care immediately if their child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation after using homeopathic teething products.”