Last week, the CDC warned the public about a Salmonella I 4,[5],12:b:- outbreak that was linked to kratom powder. Forty people in 27 states have been sickened in this outbreak; fourteen people have been hospitalized.
On Saturday, March 10, 2018, the FDA released an announcement stating that PDX Aromatics Kratom Powder has been recalled because it may have been contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The California Department of Public Health found certain lots of the product contaminated with the bacteria. One confirmed case of Salmonella food poisoning has been associated with PDX Aromatics products.
You can see the long list of recalled products, along with the brand, package weight, and lot codes at the FDA web site. The brands include Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa. The product names of the recalled items include Red Vein Sumatra Kratom Powder, Super Into Kratom Powder, and Maeng Da Thai Kratom Powder, among others.
These products are packaged in plastic heat sealed pouches and sold in 28 gram, 56 gram, and 112 gram sizes. They were sold directly to consumers via company websites between January 18, 2018 and February 18, 2018.
PDX Aromatics has identified a supplier as the source of the pathogenic bacteria. Distribution of products has ceased to perform a facility audit.
If you purchased any of the recalled products, do not consume them. Throw them away in a sealed or double bagged package, dispose of them according to your community’s regulations for medical products, or contact the manufacturer.
The FDA recommends that no one consume any kratom product, in addition to this recall, since they have received reports of deaths associated with the use of these products. A warning about these dietary supplements was issued last year. Public health officials also say that there is “no reliable evidence to support the use of kratom as a treatment for opioid use disorder.”
