Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                CFSAN Constituent Updates

CFSAN Constituent Updates Home
          Food
          News & Events from CFSAN
          CFSAN Constituent Updates
          FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Products Reported to Contain KratomCFSAN Constituent Updates FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Products Reported to Contain Kratom
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintConstituent Update

February 20, 2018

**On this page:**

Fast Facts
	What is the Problem and What is Being Done About It?
	What are the Symptoms of *Salmonella* Infection?
	Who is at Risk?
	What Do Consumers Need To Do?
	Who Should be Contacted?
	Additional Information*The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of**Salmonella infections linked to* *products reportedly containing kratom.*

Fast Facts

The FDA is advising consumers to avoid kratom and kratom-containing products. These products have been linked to a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis from a rare strain of *Salmonella.* *Mitragyna speciosa*, commonly known as kratom, is a plant that grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
	The CDC reports that 28 people in 20 states are infected with *Salmonella* I 4,[5],12:b:-. Eleven people have been hospitalized.
	During interviews conducted by health officials, ill people were asked about the foods they ate and other exposures before they became ill. Eight (73%) of 11 people interviewed reported consuming kratom in pills, capsules, powder, or tea.
	Kratom is marketed in many forms, including as leaves, pills, capsules, powder, and tea. No common brands or suppliers of products reportedly containing kratom associated with this outbreak have been identified at this time. The FDA is working with state and local health officials and CDC to identify specific brand names or suppliers of products to learn more about the possible source and route of *Salmonella* contamination and will share more information as it becomes available.back to top

What is the Problem and What is being Done About It?

The FDA, CDC, and state and local officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis from a rare strain of *Salmonella* I 4,[5],12:b:-. CDC reports that epidemiologic evidence collected to date indicates that products reported to be kratom or contain kratom are a likely source of this outbreak. These products are marketed in many forms, including as leaves, pills, capsules, powder, and tea, and may not mention kratom on the labeling. Other names for kratom that have been identified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are: Mitragyna speciosa, mitragynine extract, biak-biak, cratom, gratom, ithang, kakuam, katawn, kedemba, ketum, krathom, krton, mambog, madat, Maeng da leaf, nauclea, Nauclea speciosa, or thang.

During interviews conducted by health officials, ill people were asked about the foods they ate and other exposures before they became ill.  Eight (73%) of 11 people interviewed reported consuming kratom in pills, powder, or tea.  No common brands or suppliers of kratom associated with the outbreak have been identified at this time. The FDA is currently working with state and local health officials to identify specific brand names or suppliers of products reportedly containing kratom used by ill people to learn more about the source and route of *Salmonella* contamination.

As of February 16, the outbreak includes 28 people in 20 states [AL(1), AZ (1), CA (3), CO (1), FL (1), KS (1), KY (1), LA (1), MA(1), MI (1), NC (2), ND(1), NY(1), OH (2), OK (2), OR (2), PA (2), SC(1), TN(1), UT (2)]. Eleven of these people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. Ill people range in age from 6 to 67 years.

All of the cases have been confirmed to have a rare strain of *Salmonella* I 4,[5],12:b:-. Whole genome sequencing performed to date on isolates from ill people are closely relatedly genetically. This means that people in this outbreak are more likely to share a common source of infection.

back to top

What are the Symptoms of *Salmonella* Infection?

*Salmonella* bacteria cause the foodborne illness salmonellosis.  Most people infected with *Salmonella*develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in the current outbreak, an unusually high rate of cases have been hospitalized for their illness.

How Soon After Exposure do Symptoms Appear?

Most people infected with *Salmonella*develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.

back to top

What are the Complications of *Salmonella* Infections?

In some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In these patients, the *Salmonella*infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Who is at Risk?

Children are the most likely to get salmonellosis, although other groups are also at risk. Children younger than five, the elderly, and those people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections. It is estimated that approximately 400 persons in the United States with acute salmonellosis die each year.

back to top

What Do Consumers Need To Do?

Consumers who have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their health care provider. If you are diagnosed with salmonellosis, be sure to tell your health care provider about all products you may be using, including products reported to contain kratom. Consumers should be aware that some products may not list kratom on the labeling.

The FDA advises consumers to avoid kratom in any form. In addition to the public health concerns raised by this outbreak, kratom affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine and appears to have properties that expose people who consume kratom to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.

There are no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has received concerning reports about the safety of kratom, including deaths associated with its use. FDA is actively evaluating all available scientific information on this issue and continues to warn consumers not to use any products labeled as containing the botanical substance kratom or its psychoactive compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. FDA encourages more research to better understand kratom’s safety profile, including the use of kratom combined with other drugs.

back to top

Who Should be Contacted?

The FDA encourages consumers with questions about food safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD or consult the fda.gov website: http://www.fda.gov.

Additional Information

FDA and Kratom
	CDC: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:b:- Infections Linked to Kratom

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      02/20/2018
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesTopic(s)
			  CORE Network
				  				     				  				  
				  
				   
				  
				  				  SalmonellaCFSAN Constituent Updates
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop