Salmonella Contamination Leads FDA To Issue Mandatory Kratom Recall

Federal regulators have ordered Triangle Pharmanaturals to recall all of its powdered kratom products, after some of the powder was found to be contaminated with salmonella. 

The mandatory kratom recall was announced on April 3, after the FDA performed routine sample testing on several products while investigating the ongoing salmonella food poisoning outbreak linked to kratom products. The FDA indicates that it needed to force the recall after the manufacturer failed to comply with the agency’s request to remove its products from the market voluntarily.

Since the beginning of March, the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been tracking the source of a multi-state salmonella outbreak believed to be linked to kratom powder products.

To date, the outbreak has been linked to 87 illnesses across 35 states, resulting in 27 hospitalizations. The FDA has issued at least three separate recalls involving kratom powder.

During testing, the FDA discovered two products sold by Triangle Pharmanaturals contained salmonella strains that could result in serious or potentially fatal health consequences for consumers. Although the strain of salmonella discovered in the products was found not to be related to the ongoing multi-state outbreak, the FDA provided notice to the manufacturer to conduct a voluntary recall.

Triangle Pharmanaturals failed to comply with the FDA’s request to voluntarily conduct a safety recall, and the agency then issued a mandatory recall of all products sold by the company containing kratom.

The recall includes Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Emerald Green, Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Ivory White, and Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Ruby Red manufactured by Triangle Pharmanaturals LLC, of Las Vegas, Nevada.

The FDA is aware the manufacturer may have additional products that were sold that could contain the contaminated kratom powder. Out of an abundance of caution, all products containing kratom powder sold by Triangle Pharmanaturals are included in the recall.

Kratom is a plant native to Asia, whose leaves are taken and crushed to be made into tea or taken orally as an herbal supplement. The herb has become increasingly popular across the United States over recent years.

However, earlier this year, the FDA released a Kratom warning, stating the products may possess chemicals that bind to a user’s body receptors, similarly to opioids. The agency warned that very little is known about potential kratom side effects, and that the herbal supplement has not been approved for any medicinal purposes, despite widespread false advertising to the contrary.

Salmonella infections can cause mild to severe health consequences depending upon the individual. The bacteria may cause a healthy person to experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain whereas the young or elderly with weakened immune systems may face more severe consequences, including fatal infections.

Among pregnant women, salmonella poisoning may cause still births and miscarriages. Occasionally, salmonella infections may travel through the bloodstream and produce illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis, which can cause severe to potentially life threatening health consequences.

The FDA recommends that consumers discard the recalled products immediately and make sure that any containers or surfaces the powdered kratom products came in contact with are thoroughly cleaned to prevent cross contamination and further spread of salmonella.