U.S. Health Authorities Target Kratom Products Following Industry Complaints

Regulators Take Action on Kratom After Supplement Industry Raises Concerns

Introduction :

- In response to growing safety concerns, U.S. health officials are sounding the alarm over a powerful kratom-derived substance increasingly found in energy drinks, gummies, and supplements sold at gas stations and convenience stores. The ingredient, known as 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), is raising red flags due to its opioid-like effects and potential health risks. As the debate intensifies between federal regulators, supplement companies, and advocacy groups, the Food and Drug Administration is now recommending a nationwide ban on this controversial compound, signaling a new chapter in the ongoing struggle to balance public health and access to alternative treatments. 

U.S. Health Officials Push for Ban on Risky Kratom-Based Ingredient in Supplements

- Health officials in the United States are alerting the public to the dangers of a potent compound linked to opioids that’s showing up more frequently in energy drinks, gummies, and supplements sold at gas stations and corner stores. The compound, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), is derived from kratom—a plant from Southeast Asia often used in the U.S. as an unapproved remedy for pain, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms.

- Recently, several supplement companies selling kratom have asked the FDA to crack down on products containing 7-OH, which they claim is an artificially concentrated and potentially harmful version of kratom’s natural components.

- According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA’s latest action isn’t aimed at traditional kratom leaf products. Instead, it focuses specifically on 7-OH, warning that this compound is far more dangerous and calling for it to be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance—the same category as heroin and LSD.

- “7-OH acts as a powerful opioid, possibly even stronger than morphine,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “We must educate the public and enforce regulations to stop another opioid crisis before it starts.” 

Kratom Products Face Scrutiny from U.S. Health Officials After Complaints

- The proposal will be reviewed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which determines how dangerous drugs are regulated. Any national ban would only take effect once the DEA finalizes new rules.

- Federal interest in kratom dates back over ten years, sparked by reports of addiction, overdoses, and other health risks. However, many users and vendors have resisted government regulation, claiming kratom is a safer substitute for traditional opioids.

- Just last month, the FDA sent warning letters to seven companies marketing drinks, powders, and gummies containing 7-OH. These products are illegal under FDA rules, regulators said, because they haven’t been tested for safety and often claim to treat health conditions such as pain or anxiety.

- Supplement industry leaders welcomed the FDA's intervention. Ryan Niddel, CEO of Utah-based Diversified Botanics, called the agency’s decision a “proactive, science-based approach to protecting consumers.”

- Meanwhile, the American Kratom Association continues to lobby lawmakers against tough regulations on kratom, pushing for legislation that would keep the plant under the same rules as food and dietary supplements.

- On the other side, a group called the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust criticized the FDA’s stance, accusing major kratom companies of scapegoating 7-OH to protect their market share.

- Back in 2016, the DEA almost banned kratom by placing it on the Schedule I list. That effort was paused after overwhelming public backlash and objections from over 60 members of Congress. The FDA has been researching kratom ever since, and in 2018 concluded that it contains compounds similar to opioids like OxyContin and heroin.

- The FDA continues to issue warnings about kratom products, which are often sold as powders or capsules. More recently, the agency has also targeted other unapproved substances marketed as supplements or energy boosters, such as tianeptine—an antidepressant sometimes nicknamed “gas station heroin.” While some states have taken steps to restrict such products, they remain legal at the federal level—for now. 

Conclusion :

- As concerns grow over the unregulated use of powerful substances in over-the-counter supplements, the FDA’s push to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine marks a significant step toward tightening safety standards. While debates continue between industry advocates and health officials, the core issue remains clear: protecting consumers from potentially dangerous, opioid-like compounds disguised as natural remedies. 

- Whether or not the DEA enforces a federal ban, the spotlight on 7-OH reflects a broader effort to curb the risks associated with loosely regulated supplements and prevent another wave of addiction and harm.