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Laboratory Analysis of Kratom Products for Heavy Metals

FDA conducted laboratory testing of 30 different kratom products from a variety of sources to determine if they contain heavy metals. The analysis found significant levels of lead and nickel at concentrations that exceed safe exposure for oral daily drug intake.

Based on reported kratom usage patterns, heavy kratom users may be exposed to levels of lead and nickel many times greater than the safe daily exposure, as referenced in Appendix 2 of the Q3D Elemental Impurities Guidance for Industry.

Based on these test results, the typical long-term kratom user could potentially develop heavy metal poisoning, which could include nervous system or kidney damage, anemia, high blood pressure, and/or increased risk of certain cancers.

The following table highlights FDA’s laboratory data:

Product Source Nickel* (ng/g) Lead* (ng/g)
Red Tea soapkorner.com Sub 1: 1070
Sub 2: 1110		 Sub 1: 477
Sub 2 :478
Raw Organics Red Maeng Da 4aceswholesale.com 3800 615
Raw Organics White Maeng Da 4aceswholesale.com 8670 398
Red Maeng Da phytoextractum.com 1780 904
White Maeng Da phytoextractum.com 2030 402
Red Maeng Da krakenkratom.com 2210 382
White Maeng Da krakenkratom.com 1830 **485
Red Borneo krakenkratom.com 1570 574
Red Maeng Da buykratombulkusa.com 3830 305
White Maeng Da buykratombulkusa.com 2570 332
Red Borneo buykratombulkusa.com 3166 333
TomTea Private Reserve Maeng Da Mood & Mind LLC 9020 847
Maeng Da Red/Green Blend Mood & Mind LLC 3020 530
5-strain sample pack
(Containing Red Borneo, Red Maeng Da,
Green Maeng Da, White Borneo,
and White Maeng Da)		 Gaia Ethnobotanicals Sub 1: 4700
Sub 2: 5100
Sub 3: 4400
Sub 4: 4700
Sub 5: 2890		 Sub 1: 584
Sub 2: 460
Sub 3: 790
Sub 4: 550
Sub 5: 2700
Krave Botanicals – Maeng Da Ashlynn Marketing Group Inc. 2260 320
Krave Botanicals – Gold Ashlynn Marketing Group Inc. 10000 510
Red Hot Hippo Maeng Da Red Happy Hippo LLC 1990 770
RockStar Hippo Maeng Da White Happy Hippo LLC 2680 1400
Sunshine Hippo Maeng Da Gold Happy Hippo LLC 1360 406
White Maeng Da Beaufort Kratom LLC 2390 490
Red Maeng Da Beaufort Kratom LLC 4400 1010
White Maeng Da Liquid Front Range Kratom 690 Not detected above 200 ng/g
Red Maeng Da Liquid Front Range Kratom 576 Not detected above 200 ng/g
Red Bali Front Range Kratom 10700 352
Maeng Da Kratom Spot 20100 438
Red Vein Sumatra Kratom Spot Sub 1: 22600
Sub 2: 29000		 Sub 1: 687
Sub 2: 777
White Vein Kratom Sunstone Organics LLC 3680 307
Red Vein Kratom Sunstone Organics LLC 3220 424
Green Vein Kratom Sunstone Organics LLC 5720 252
Maeng Da Kratom Sunstone Organics LLC 1060 1200

* Calculated as average amount from 3 tests of same product unless otherwise noted
**n=2, semi-quantitative

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