Kratom Linked to 199-Person Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Across 41 States

Why it matters

This investigation documented the first multistate Salmonella outbreak in the US linked to kratom, revealing widespread contamination across the supply chain from multiple countries — a critical food safety concern for kratom consumers.

The big picture

The outbreak highlights that kratom's lack of federal regulation creates serious contamination risks; with no FDA-approved uses or manufacturing standards, the kratom supply chain remains vulnerable to microbial contamination that can sicken hundreds across the country.

Key findings

• • 199 case-patients across 41 U.S. states were sickened from January 2017 to May 2018, resulting in 54 hospitalizations
• • 55% of 76 FDA-collected kratom product samples tested positive for Salmonella
• • Multiple Salmonella serovars (Heidelberg, Javiana, Okatie, Weltevreden, Thompson) were identified
• • Kratom was primarily imported from Indonesia; wide genetic diversity of Salmonella isolates suggests contamination at multiple points in growing, harvesting, and packaging

What they say

FDA/CDC multistate outbreak investigation with epidemiological, traceback, and laboratory analysis; published in Journal of Food Protection 2022.

Bottom line

Kratom products caused a 199-person Salmonella outbreak across 41 states due to widespread supply chain contamination — underscoring urgent need for manufacturing standards and federal oversight.